News & Events

Pongal is a popular harvest festival that usually falls in the middle of January every year. ‘Pongal’ means ‘boiling over’ or ‘overflow’ in Tamil, signifying the overflow of prosperity and happiness.

The first day of Pongal is called Bhogi Pongal, where people discard old and unused household items and celebrate with bonfires. The second day, Surya Pongal, is dedicated to the Sun God. On this day, a sweet dish called Pongal, made from rice, milk and jaggery, is prepared and offered to the Sun along with other offerings. The third day, Mattu Pongal, celebrates cattle and other farm animals that help farmers in agriculture. On this day, cattle are bathed, decorated with flowers and worshipped. The fourth and final day, Kaanum Pongal, marks the end of Pongal festivities, where people visit relatives and friends to enjoy the festive season.

Speakers at the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in Uganda were urged to champion wildlife conservation efforts in their home countries. James Musinguzi, executive director of the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, made an impassioned plea for legislators to take action to protect biodiversity and combat climate change.

Musinguzi emphasized the need for the Commonwealth countries to prioritise conservation as part of their climate change mitigation strategies. Protecting wildlife and natural habitats preserves biodiversity and environmental health. He encouraged the conference participants to be advocates for conservation efforts when they return home.

The conference attendees toured the UWEC facilities and learned about their mission to promote conservation through education. They saw first-hand the critical work being done to care for injured or orphaned wild animals and prepare them for re-release into protected habitats.

At the 27th CSPOC gathering, India was also confirmed as the host country for the next conference in early 2026.

Read the original article here: https://www.msn.com/en-xl/africa/top-stories/commonwealth-speakers-urged-to-promote-conservation/ar-AA1mAikV

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has secured a landslide victory in Bangladesh’s parliamentary election, granting her Awami League party a fourth consecutive term in power. According to election officials, Hasina’s party has won over two-thirds of the seats in parliament, giving them a strong majority government. Hasina’s re-election continues her decade-long tenure as Prime Minister. She has promoted economic development and overseen impressive GDP growth during her time in office.

This marks a significant victory for 71-year-old Hasina, the daughter of Bangladesh’s first president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. She has consolidated her grip on power and will likely pursue similar economic and developmental policies during her new term.

Read the original article here: https://www.ibtimes.co.in/sheikh-hasina-elected-bangladeshs-prime-minister-fifth-term-865213