Jackie Chan in earthquake charity concert

London, April 28 (ANI): Jackie Chan and more than hundred stars from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan participated in a charity concert to raise money for earthquake victims in China.

The five-hour concert in Hong Kong raised 4.8 million dollars for victims of the disaster in China’s Qinghai that killed more than 2,200 people earlier this month.

Chan visited the affected area last week, featured in a video produced for the fundraiser, which showed him living with the victims, reports The BBC.

“The quake area is located in a plateau. It”s ten times worse than we thought. And the winter will come soon. It is urgent to take action,” said actor Andy Lau.

One week after the area was devastated by the disaster, China observed a national day of mourning for victims. (ANI)

Dalai Lama offers prayers for Tibet earthquake victims

Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh), Apr 28 (ANI): The Dalai Lama and hundreds of Tibetan monks and nuns offered prayers in Dharamsala here on Tuesday for victims of the recent Tibet earthquake.

Prayers were held at Tsuglagkhang, the main Buddhist temple, and were attended by many locals and representatives of different non-profit organizations.

“The official report from the Chinese Government says that over 2,000 people have died, so because of the earthquake in Tibet, thousands of Tibetan people died. There are many people, who are suffering right now; there are many orphans who don”t have any parents,” said Tibetan Youth Congress President Tsewang Rigzin.

“We are gathered here today to pray for the deceased and show solidarity with our brothers and sisters inside the Tibet,” he added.

Reportedly, over 2,000 people died last week in the tremors that rocked the Qinghai province in the autonomous Tibet region of China. (ANI)

Tibetans pray for Chinese earthquake victims

Suja (Himachal Pradesh), Apr 24 (ANI): Tibetan students in India offered special prayers for Chinese earthquake victims in Himachal Pradesh’s Suja village.

Over 2,000 people died last week as tremors rocked Qinghai Province.

Tibetans in India expressed shock over the news.

“Ever since this unfortunate incident, we have organized prayers. The Karmapa has visited our school to perform prayers, and recently, they had a private audience with the Dalai Lama. His Holiness is very concerned about what happened to people inside Tibet,” said Namkhang, a teacher at the TCV School in Suja.

Over 40 students of different age groups are reported to have lost their family members and relatives in the tragedy.

The students, offered prayers for the peace of departed souls. (ANI)

Sampras, Agassi rivalry comes to fore during charity match

London, Mar 15 (ANI): Tennis legends Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi renewed their age old rivalry on the court during a charity match to raise money for the Haiti relief fund.

The tennis legends joined Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal in raising cash for Haiti earthquake victims.

They have been bickering since Agassi claimed in his autobiography that Sampras was a cheapskate – citing an occasion when he tipped just one dollar for valet parking.

The two greats cannot keep their simmering rivalry hidden, as it had been eight years since they last faced each other on a tennis court.

But within a matter of minutes of the Hit for Haiti night at the BNP Paribas Masters in California at the weekend, they were almost coming to blows.

Agassi was playing with Nadal and Sampras was teamed up with Federer for one set of doubles in front of a packed house of 16,000, the Daily Express reports.

All the players were wearing microphones, which gave Agassi the opportunity to crack a few gags and get the audience going.

As Sampras simply got on with the business of forehands and backhands, he was encouraged to lighten up a little. Sampras duly responded by imitating Agassi’s pigeon-toed walk and his fidgeting and fussing at the baseline.

Agassi hit back by showing off his impersonation of Sampras; turning out his pockets and claiming to have no money.

Sampras was clearly livid and served a thunderbolt directly at Agassi. “It’s OK, it’s OK,” Agassi said as he dodged the ball. “It’s better than being a valet driver and you pulling up.”

By this stage, Federer and Nadal were looking distinctly uneasy while the crowd was not Nadal was fortunate enough to miss most of the snide remarks and put-downs.

“I didn’t understand anything,” he said. “No, that’s the truth. They speak very fast for me. I was very happy I didn’t understand. I think they try to have fun there. ”

They were obviously having so much fun that neither Sampras nor Agassi spoke to the media after the fundraiser and both beat a hasty retreat from the venue. (ANI)

Demi Moore beats Kevin Bacon, wins £156,250 prize for anti sex-slave charity

London, Mar 5 (ANI): Demi Moore beat Kevin Bacon in an online contest called ”Pepsi Refresh Celebrity Challenge”, to bag 156,250 pounds for her anti-sex slave charity.

The cash has gone to ”The DNA Foundation”, founded by Moore and husband Ashton Kutcher.

”The Ghost” star received the most public votes in the poll.

Moore”s foundation plans to forward the prize money to the Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS), which helps women who have suffered sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking.

“I am thrilled that GEMS has gained powerful allies in Demi Moore and The DNA Foundation and honoured to be the beneficiary of a Pepsi Refresh Grant,” the Daily Star quoted GEMS founder/Executive Director Rachel Lloyd, as saying.

He added: “The grant will support us in the important work of transforming survivors of domestic trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation into future leaders.”

Meanwhile, Bacon”s charity ”SixDegrees.org”, which is presently helping Haiti earthquake victims, will receive a 62,500-pound grant. (ANI)

Becks puts wife ahead of Abruzzo earthquake victims

London, Apr 24 (ANI): David Beckham has declined offers to date Italian female fans to raise money for the victims of the Abruzzo earthquake – because of his love for wife Victoria.

While on a visit to meet earthquake victims in Italy, the footie idol left ladies heartbroken after he refused to auction himself off as a date.

“I’m ready to do everything I can to help – except betray Victoria,” The Mirror quoted him as saying.

Beckham, who is playing for the AC Milan these days, secured a deal last month that will see him share his time between the Italian giants and LA Galaxy.

Earlier, Posh wasn’t supporting her husband’s full-time transfer to Milan as she didn’t want to shift base to Italy with her kids, but later the pair talked over the issue and she finally gave a nod for the move. (ANI)

Italy mourns earthquake victims

Italy is holding a state funeral for the 281 victims, killed in Monday’s quake.

About 200 coffins will be laid out on the parade ground of a police academy in the mountain city of L’Aquila for the funeral.

Around 1600 bereaved families are expected to attend the funeral. A special Islamic ritual will be held for the six Muslim victims.

Above 28000 people have been left homeless by the quake, which measured 6.3 on the richter scale.

Search for Italian earthquake victims continues

Rome – Rescue teams in Italy’s central Abruzzo region continued to sift through the rubble Saturday, six days after an earthquake that left at least 290 dead. Volunteer rescue workers using a special microphone had on Friday night scoured the rubble of a house in the city of L’Aquila, where noises had been heard. There was however little hope of anyone being found alive, according to Italian media reports.

The quake that registered some 6.2 on the Richter scale struck on Monday, destroying scores of buildings in L’Aquila and other nearby towns in the Abruzzo region.

A state funeral for many of the victims of the deadliest quake to hit Italy in almost three decades took place on Friday.

Efforts to find survivors were due to continue through Sunday.

Easter rituals begin in Rome amid grief for earthquake victims

Vatican City – Pope Benedict XVI in a Holy Thursday Chrism Mass celebrated the first of a series of traditional rituals leading to Easter – a feast tinged with sorrow in Italy this year for the victims of an devastating earthquake.

During the ceremony in St Peter’s Basilica, Benedict blessed holy oils which will be used in Catholic sacraments, including baptisms, confirmations and last rites for the dying.

Some of the oils consecrated this year are destined for parishes in Italy’s central Abruzzo region where by Thursday morning the death toll from Monday’s earthquake stood at 278.

Benedict on Wednesday said he plans to visit the earthquake area “as soon as possible”.

On Thursday evening, the 81-year-old pontiff was scheduled to perform the traditional foot-washing ceremony which commemorates the same gesture carried out by Jesus Christ before his Last Supper.

Benedict is scheduled to preside over the traditional Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession in Rome’s Colosseum on Good Friday and an Easter vigil at the Vatican on Saturday.

On Easter Sunday, he is due to celebrate Mass in St Peter’s before delivering his Urbi et Orbi message and blessing “to the city and the world.”

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is regarded by Christians as their most important religious feast. dpa

Two Czech teenagers among Italian earthquake victims

Prague – Two Czech teenagers were identified Tuesday among the victims of the powerful earthquake that struck central Italy, Czech officials said.

The dead were two 17-year-old students, a boy and a girl, from the eastern Bohemian town of Pardubice who were in Italy on a short-term study programme, the Czech Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Their remains were found in the rubble of the building where they were staying, the ministry said.

The death toll in Monday morning’s earthquake climbed to 228 by Tuesday evening, while at least one person was killed by a strong aftershock that hit the area, local reports said. (dpa)

JuD chief’s wife files petition challenging Hafiz Saeed’s detention

Islamabad, Mar 6 (ANI): A Pakistani court on Friday directed authorities to respond within a week to a petition filed by Jamaat- ud- Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeeds wife, Memoona Saeed, challenging the government’s decision to detain Saeed.

Justice Khurshid Anwar Bhinder of the Lahore High Court disposed of the petition on Wednesday and directed the Punjab home secretary to respond within one week to her plea.

The judge also said the authorities would face contempt of court proceedings if they failed to respond to the plea.

The petitioner submitted that the government detained her husband only to please the US and India without giving any valid reason.

Memoona said on December 12, 2008 the Lahore district coordination officer had issued detention orders for Hafiz’s detention with a note that the reasons would be mentioned later. But on January 10, the Punjab Home Department again issued two-month detention orders without giving any reason.

She claimed that Jamaatud Dawa was basically a social welfare organisation and had provided rehabilitation services to earthquake victims in Kashmir and NWFP.

A law officer of the provincial government opposed the petition and also requested the court to allow the Home Department one-month time to decide the representation of the petitioner.

The judge, however, did not accept the request and directed the Home Department to decide on the representation within one week. (ANI)