Children paint to spread awareness about Commonwealth Games in Delhi

New Delhi, May 8 (ANI): Children took part in a painting competition here on Saturday with a focus on spreading awareness about the October 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The competition was organized by the Bungalow Road Jawahar Nagar Travellers” Association in the capital”s Kamla Nagar area.

Most of the paintings depicted sporting events of the Commonwealth Games.

“I am feeling very happy that Commonwealth Games are being held in Delhi this year. I feel that by participating in this painting competition, I would contribute in spreading Delhi”s and India”s name all over the world,” said Varun Sachdeva, a youth who participated in the event.”

“Basically, the idea is to spread awareness about the Commonwealth Games amongst the local people as this time, our government is organizing the Commonwealth Games,” said Surinder Sonic, the Chairman of the Association.

The mascot of the Commonwealth Games, Shera, was also present at the event. The 19th Commonwealth Games will be held in New Delhi in October this year. (ANI)

Ousted Kyrgyz President Bakiyev charged with organizing mass murder

Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Apr 28(ANI): Three weeks after ousting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the interim Kyrgyzstan government has charged him with organizing mass murder linked with the country’s bloody unrest earlier this month.

Kyrgyz interim Deputy Prime Minister Azimbek Beknazarov said the interim government has adopted a legislation accusing Bakiyev of organizing mass murder and abusing power.

He said the legislation has also removed Bakiyev’s presidential immunity, and insisted the interim government would make a formal request for his extradition from Belarus to stand trial back home.

“A decree approving the extradition had been adopted by the interim government and the request would be sent to Minsk,” the Xinhua news agency quoted Beknazarov, as saying.

At least 85 people were killed in the protests that overthrew Bakiyev, whose security forces fired on the protesters as they stormed government buildings in Bishkek.

The interim government says Bakiyev ordered the police and soldiers to shoot.

After fleeing Bishkek, Bakiyev took refuge in his hometown of Osh and tried to regroup, but after being shot at, agreed to an internationally brokered deal to resign and go into exile. (ANI)

Natives of Kyonsa in Sikkim to promote pillow fighting, pole climbing

Kyonsa (Sikkim), Aug 27(ANI): The local residents of Kyonsa region in Sikkim gathered in huge numbers on Thursday to take part in an event to promote their age-old rural game of bamboo pole climbing and pillow fighting.

The locals shouted and cheered as the participants climbed bamboo poles and battered each other in pillow fights – reviving a practice that is slowly dying in the face of modern sports like soccer and volleyball.

“Our main aim is to preserve this old system of sports. Nowadays, we mainly focus on sports like football, archery and volleyball but our aim is to keep this traditional style of sports alive in our rural areas and entertain the public on such an occasion,” said Sonam Bhutia, General Secretary of Kyonsa Samaj Organizing Committee.

Sonam further said this was also a way of preserving their identity and by promoting this form of sport in the rural areas, the youth will learn more about their own traditions and not be swayed by modern sports such as football.

“Such rural sports encourage us and bring out the best in the all the villages who come from different areas. Here people come and gather for an occasion like this one. In this way we can preserve our age old sports which our earlier generations have been playing from a very long time,” said Anand Lepcha, a local.

The event was also marked by some spectacular dance performances. (ANI)

Canada court reserves judgement in ski jumping case

Vancouver – A court in Canada has reserved judgement in the case of female ski jumpers who are suing to to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics. After five days of hearings, British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Lauri Ann Fenlon said Friday the issues behind the case were “very complex” and that she needed time to consider all the arguments.

Fifteen female ski jumpers took the Vancouver Organizing Committee to court for the right to compete at the Vancouver Games.

Lawyers for the skiers argued that under Canadian gender discrimination law laid out in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms all ski jumpers should be allowed to compete.

If the court rules in their favour the Vancouver committee would have to tell the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow the ski jumpers to compete or cancel the men’s ski jumping events.

The Vancouver committee has argued that the February 12-28 Games programme is a matter for the IOC, which has said the women will not be ready for competition until the 2014 winter Games.

The IOC is the Games’ regulatory body and as a foreign organization is not obliged to follow the charter, its lawyer argued.(dpa)

Michael Jackson’s possessions not for sale after settlement

LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson’s possessions aren’t going to the auction block after all.

Julien’s Auction House and a spokesman for Jackson said on Tuesday that the singer will retain possession of some 2,000 items from Neverland Ranch as part of a dispute settlement. The exhibition to promote the sale, which has been open to the public, will continue through April 25.

Jackson’s production company sued auction organizer Darren Julien to halt the sale in early March. A judge blocked one effort by MJJ Productions to cancel it earlier this month, and another was scheduled to hear arguments on Wednesday for an injunction.

Julien has said he spent $2 million organizing the sale, which another auctioneer estimated could have fetched $12 million.

TERI, SPIB to host international conference on ‘Biopesticides: Stakeholders Perspective’

New Delhi, Apr 7 (ANI/Business Wire India): The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in collaboration with the Society for Promotion and Innovation of Biopesticides (SPIB) will organise the Fifth International Conference from April 26-30 in New Delhi.

The conference will witness the presence of about 600 delegates from around the globe to deliberate on the advancement and promotion of biopesticides from the “stakeholders’ perspectives”.

The conference will have insightful sessions on sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, eco-restoration and climate change.

A special exhibition-BioFair 2009 will feature organizations and industrial companies involved in the field of biopesticides and related topics.

Enthused by the opportunity that ICOB will be held in India, Dr Seema Wahab, Advisor, Dept of Biotechnology, Govt. of India and Organizing Secretary, ICOB-V said “This is the first International Conference on Biopesticides bringing India in the forefront in this specific area which is very important and relevant for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection”.

The conference will provide a platform for its stakeholders participating from various parts of the world-researchers, scientists from public and private sectors, planners, industrialists and end-users to share their knowledge, experiences and learning related to the development, production and application of biopesticides.

The participants will also elaborate the constraints they face, which will help in finding solutions collectively and in evolving a sustainable perspective plan for value chain network to increase the use of biopesticides.

Elaborating on the relevance of Biotechnology and TERI’s role to popularise its use, Dr. Nutan Kaushik, Fellow TERI said, “Food security is a major concern that needs to be tackled and is incorporated in National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) issued by the Government of India. For the past two decades many pests and diseases as major and limiting factors have affected the productivity of several crops. Crop protection plays an integral role in the global production of food which must satisfy increasing consumer demand. Concerns over the environment and human health impacts of chemical pesticides have led to considerable interest in the development of an alternative control method. Keeping this in mind, the conference will be of utmost importance.”

This conference is a part of the series of international conferences held previously in Thailand (1996), China (1998), Malaysia (2002), and Thailand (2005), promoted by the University of California, Riverside, USA, and Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

It would bring to the fore, the fundamental and applied research on various aspects of biopesticides in pest and disease management in agriculture, forestry, public health, and the urban landscape. (ANI)

TERI, SPIB to host international conference on ‘Biopesticides: Stakeholders Perspective’

New Delhi, Apr 7 (ANI/Business Wire India): The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in collaboration with the Society for Promotion and Innovation of Biopesticides (SPIB) will organise the Fifth International Conference from April 26-30 in New Delhi.

The conference will witness the presence of about 600 delegates from around the globe to deliberate on the advancement and promotion of biopesticides from the “stakeholders’ perspectives”.

The conference will have insightful sessions on sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, eco-restoration and climate change.

A special exhibition-BioFair 2009 will feature organizations and industrial companies involved in the field of biopesticides and related topics.

Enthused by the opportunity that ICOB will be held in India, Dr Seema Wahab, Advisor, Dept of Biotechnology, Govt. of India and Organizing Secretary, ICOB-V said “This is the first International Conference on Biopesticides bringing India in the forefront in this specific area which is very important and relevant for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection”.

The conference will provide a platform for its stakeholders participating from various parts of the world-researchers, scientists from public and private sectors, planners, industrialists and end-users to share their knowledge, experiences and learning related to the development, production and application of biopesticides.

The participants will also elaborate the constraints they face, which will help in finding solutions collectively and in evolving a sustainable perspective plan for value chain network to increase the use of biopesticides.

Elaborating on the relevance of Biotechnology and TERI’s role to popularise its use, Dr. Nutan Kaushik, Fellow TERI said, “Food security is a major concern that needs to be tackled and is incorporated in National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) issued by the Government of India. For the past two decades many pests and diseases as major and limiting factors have affected the productivity of several crops. Crop protection plays an integral role in the global production of food which must satisfy increasing consumer demand. Concerns over the environment and human health impacts of chemical pesticides have led to considerable interest in the development of an alternative control method. Keeping this in mind, the conference will be of utmost importance.”

This conference is a part of the series of international conferences held previously in Thailand (1996), China (1998), Malaysia (2002), and Thailand (2005), promoted by the University of California, Riverside, USA, and Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

It would bring to the fore, the fundamental and applied research on various aspects of biopesticides in pest and disease management in agriculture, forestry, public health, and the urban landscape. (ANI)

A weeklong art festival on in Sikkim

Gangtok (Sikkim), Mar 22 (ANI): Creative minds from across India came up with diverse paintings at a weeklong art festival in Sikkim.

The festival started on March 16 and will end on March 23.

Organised in collaboration with the Sikkim Academy, the festival aims to encourage healthy exchange of ideas among participants.

“We have been organizing such events in the whole of northeast, partly to provoke the regional creativity. I am very happy to see that some of these artists from northeast have started winning national awards in the national exhibition,” said Ashok Bajpayee, chairperson of New Delhi’s Lalit Kala Academy.

“About 35 established artists, senior artists from all over India are participating in this mega event,” said G.S Lama, president of the Sikkim Academy.

This festival has been organised for the second time in Sikkim. (ANI)

Peace and reconciliation convention held in Nagaland

Kohima, Mar 7 (ANI): ‘Naga Convention for Reconciliation and Peace’ was recently held at Kohima with the message of peace and an end to bloodshed and violence.

The convention was organized by the forum of Naga Reconciliation (FNR) along with the other Naga frontal civil organizations.

Thousands of people from various Naga tribes, underground groups, church and civil society came together for one purpose – “peace” in the state.

The desire for reconciliation and peace was best expressed through songs by renowned Naga singers.

Wati Aier, Convener of the FNR said: “If any kind of an organization, we need to have a code, a dream, a vision. We have planned this very carefully and we intend in completing it. It is not just an organisation trying to organize this kind of meeting. We are concerned about the activities. Besides organizing this meeting we have been talking, organizing, meeting, traveling and we will continue to do this.”

The convention provided a platform for the people to come together and work towards ending violence and bringing back peace and normalcy to the state.The convention is a positive attitude, everyone expressing the desire for reconciliation. This is a starting point and this is where we can build our hope. We find this is the key to finding solution in our land,” said Vivi, General Secretary, Naga Mothers Association. By Vibhou Ganguly (ANI)

Malay Hindus upset over board’s interference in procession

Georgetown (Malaysia), Jan.20 (ANI): Hindus in the Malaysian province of Penang are unhappy with the Penang Hindu Endowment Board’s interference in organizing of the silver chariot procession on Thaipusam eve.

The Star quoted Hindu Action Network chairman G. Mugunthan as saying on Monday that from the public feedback he received, the Hindus were “disturbed and uncomfortable” with the board’s interference in the running of the procession by the Nattukotai Chettiar Temple trustees.

“The Chettiar community has been doing a fine job organising the procession for over 100 years in a professional way,” he said.

United Hindu Religious Council deputy president A.K. Suppayah, who was the board’s assistant secretary for 21 years, claimed that the board did not have the locus standi to interfere. (ANI)

Labour ministry provides shelter, food to Japan’s jobless

Labour ministry provides shelter, food to Japan's joblessTokyo – The Japanese labour ministry on Monday announced it would provide shelters and food for about 500 people who lost their homes and jobs as a result of recent economic recession that led many Japanese businesses to downsize workforce.

The global financial turmoil affected mainly the Japanese manufacturing sector, and the number of temporary workers to be laid off by the end of March was expected to exceed 85,000, according to the ministry.

Since December 31, total of 1,500 jobless have passed through a Tokyo park, where 20 volunteer organizations set up tents and offered free food and job consultation over the New Year holiday.

As the number of the needy increased, the ministry agreed to open public gymnasiums to provide shelter for a week while setting up consultation services for employment and welfare assistance.

“This is a typical case of temporary works,” said Momoyo Kamo of the Japan Community Union Federation, one of the organizing groups.

Temporary workers often draw short-term contracts, which could be less than three months, with accommodation. They lose their homes when they lose their jobs.

“Regardless of age, people are worried about tomorrow. They have to first secure a place to live before looking for work,” Kamo said.

The ministry also said it would introduce about 4,000 jobs with accommodation in the Tokyo area, according to Kamo. But she is not certain whether these jobs are “reliable, secure jobs.”

The mass layoffs of temporary workers in Japan began around the fall of last year, when the manufacturing sector reduced output due to slowing exports. Toyota Motor Corp has decided to cut about 6,000 temps.

The downsizing has also spread to full-time employees, in the meantime. Sony, for instance, plans to dismiss 8,000 full-time employees in and outside Japan.

“The current situation is a disaster,” Shuichiro Sekine of Haken Union said. “People have the right to live peacefully, but it is being violated.”

One 28-year-old man lost his job at the end of September when the electronic parts factory where he worked began downsizing.

At a local employment agency, the waiting list was too long to talk to anyone in a day, he said. But at the Tokyo park he was able to reach a lawyer to discuss further job and life options.

“Now I see a little hope,” he said, adding that he was glad to find such free services available in Tokyo. “It is a life-or-death situation for us.”

Volunteer groups plan to request the government assistance in spreading the service nationwide, Kamo said. (dpa)