Many celebrate Yoga Day in Washington
Washington, June 20: Hundreds of yoga enthusiasts came together to observe the International Yoga Day at an event that was addressed by India’s Deputy Ambassador to the US Sripriya Ranganathan.
At the picturesque Wharf, overlooking the Potomac river, the International Yoga Day event on Wednesday began with prayers and Indian classical dance performances. The yoga session highlighted the spirit of oneness and harmony inspired by the ancient Indian practice. The International Day of Yoga is celebrated on June 21 every year. This year’s theme is ‘Yoga for Self and Society’. (AP)
World’s citizens to gather at UN on Yoga Day
United Nations, June 20: Citizens from around the globe will gather here on Friday to show the uniting power of yoga across boundaries and divisions as the world organisation celebrates the 10th International Day of Yoga.
The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Yoga for Women Empowerment’ and it will be featured on the North Lawn of the UN headquarters where diplomats, UN officials and employees, and aficionados of the ancient art will perform asanas in synchronicity.
Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed is expected to participate in the event and a video message from General Assembly President Dennis Francis is anticipated.
The global celebrations with millions participating every year were set in motion by the General Assembly in December 2014 when it declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in a resolution proposed by India, cosponsored by 175 countries and adopted unanimously. (IANS)
Heiress gives away her $26 million fortune
Berlin, June 20: A young German-Austrian heiress has realised her plan to redistribute almost all of her assets to organisations that are devoted to protecting the climate, improving education and health care, or supporting gender equality among other issues.
Marlene Engelhorn, 31, had asked a group representing 50 diverse citizens in Austria earlier this year to decide how her 25 million euros (USD 26.8 million) worth of wealth should be distributed.
The millionaire argued that assets are unequally distributed in the country and that by sharing her wealth with others she is trying to help make up for the unfair distribution of wealth in Austrian society.
“A large part of my inherited wealth, which through my birth has elevated me to a position of power that contradicts every democratic principle, has now been redistributed in accordance with democratic values,” she said in a written statement Tuesday, Austria Press Agency reported.
“So how does it feel to finally be normal and democratic? Quite fantastic, to be honest,” Engelhorn told broadcasters RTL and NTV on Wednesday. “It feels wonderful to share,” she said. The group of 50, called Guter Rat – which means “good advice” in German – had announced Tuesday who they would distribute the money to.
Some 77 organisations in Austria – renowned and large, as well as small and relatively unknown ones – will receive money from Engelhorn, which include aid groups such as Caritas, Diakonie and Volkshilfe, women’s shelters, and newspapers run by homeless people, fire departments, and pro-democracy groups, the agency reported. (AP)
Swiss museum removes Nazi-looted paintings
Geneva, June 20: A Swiss museum on Thursday pulled down five paintings, including a van Gogh and a Monet, after the foundation that owns them called for a deeper look at their origins following new US guidelines on how to handle artworks once confiscated by the Nazis.
The Foundation E G Bu¨hrle Collection, which owns the works formerly shown at the Kunsthaus Zürich museum, said it was looking to reach a “fair and equitable solution” with the legal successors of the former owners, who were not identified. The foundation’s board called for a new assessment of the works under new “best practices” published by the US State Department in March on how to deal with Nazi-confiscated art, as an upgrade to principles adopted in 1998.
The works include the oil paintings “Jardin de Monet à Giverny” by Claude Monet from 1895, and “Der alte Turm” by Vincent van Gogh, of 1884. A sixth painting, Edouard Manet’s “La Sultane,” was also considered as “a case deserving particular attention”, the foundation said. It said it was ready to make a financial contribution to the estate of Max Silberberg, a German Jew and art collector who died with his wife at the Nazi death camp in Auschwitz, in connection with the Manet out of respect to his “tragic destiny”. (AP)