gorilla at the Berlin zoo is set to celebrate her 67th birthday on Saturday. Believed to be the oldest gorilla in the world, Fatou has been in the city longer than the Berlin Wall was. When Fatou first moved to Berlin in 1959, the Berlin Wall was still two years away from being built. When it fell in 1989, she was still there. And on Saturday, the gorilla will celebrate her 67th birthday. According to the Berlin Zoo, where she lives, Fatou is the oldest gorilla in the world, although her precise age and birthday aren't known. The zoo says she first arrived in Europe when a sailor tried to use her as currency in a pub in the French port city of Marseille, before eventually ending up in what was then West Berlin. She was estimated to be about two years old and her birthday has since been celebrated on April 13. Fatou received her first birthday present on Friday: a food basket including twigs, leaves, lettuce, grapes, bananas and a bit of melon. Just like older humans, she avoids too many sweet treats and increasingly sticks to soft food which she can chew without teeth. Fatou: the oldest gorilla in the world In the wild, gorillas can live up to the age 35, and in confinement, with human care, up to 50. But Fatou is showing no signs of stopping. She lives in her own gorilla pen separate from the main group. This, according to the zoo, would be too stressful for a lady of her advanced years. Fatou is free to make contact with her fellow great apes whenever she wants, but prefers to enjoy her retirement in peace. German vet Andre Schüle told the Associated Press that there is no gorilla older than Fatou in any other zoo "and we have to assume that there is no animal older than her in the wild," where animals do not live so long. In 2021, Katjuscha, the oldest female polar bear in captivity in Europe, died at the age of 37at the zoo. But Fatou only recently became the Berlin Zoo's oldest resident, following the death of Ingo the flamingo. Having lived at the zoo since 1955 and believed to be at least 75, the old bird didn't just stand on one leg, he was sadly on his last. But he could have flown over the Berlin Wall at any time.

Allu Arjun, who is awaiting the release of 'Pushpa: The Rule', was in for a surprise as he turned 42 on April 8. Hundreds of his fans gathered outside his house in Hyderabad at midnight to greet him on his birthday. Overwhelmed by their love, Allu Arjun greeted them, waved at them and also thanked them for coming all the way to wish him. His fans gave him the loudest cheer on his birthday. A video of Allu Arjun waving to his fans outside his home is now going viral. In the video, he can also be seen greeting them with folded hands. He blew flying kisses to them as they chanted 'Pushpa' several times.   Source: India Today

December 30 is not just an ordinary day for BTS lovers– it's V's Day! As the 28-year-old vocalist of BTS, his dedicated ARMY is gearing up for a unique global celebration.  From the vibrant streets of Seoul to the neon lights of Tokyo and beyond, fans are prepared to paint the world (Bora) purple in tribute to their cherished Taehyung. In South Korea, dynamic billboards showcasing V's radiant smile are lighting up major cities.  Cafes are set to offer delightful Taehyung-themed treats and beverages.  Meanwhile, Japanese fans are organizing intricate flash mobs and dance covers, demonstrating synchronized moves to his Layover hits. In the United States, ARMYs are surpassing expectations. Expect iconic landmarks like the Times Square screen and the Hollywood sign to be bathed in shades of purple.  Thailand's BTS ARMY is hosting CAPTAIN V RADIO, a special event dedicated to BTS member V. The broadcast will air on Easy FM 105.5 MHz, a Thai radio station, allowing fans to revisit V's moments as a DJ, listening to his stories and music. The event is scheduled for December 29-30, 2023, with specific time slots outlined for each day. Thailand's iconic Empire Tower, home to the country's tallest office building, will be adorned with a birthday celebration for BTS' V. This spectacular display on a dazzling LED screen will run from December 25th to 31st.  

Chinese officials have spread propaganda showing ‘poor, underprivileged’ Tibetans before Mao’s 1950 invasion. Chinese authorities in Tibet forced locals to celebrate the 130th anniversary of Mao Zedong’s birth on Tuesday, crediting the late leader with “the peaceful liberation of Tibet” in 1950, which Tibetan authorities in exile consider an invasion and the start of an illegal annexation. Officials used Mao’s birthday “to spread false information and distort facts about Tibet’s past history, in the hope of making the Tibetan people believe this disinformation,” a young Tibetan in Lhasa told Radio Free Asia, requesting anonymity for safety reasons. The source said the public celebrations for Mao depicted an independent, pre-invasion Tibet as backwards and impoverished in order to justify the region’s invasion and annexation by China, which argues that Tibet was historically always a part of its territory. “Chinese authorities use and disseminate pictures of poor, underprivileged Tibetan families from the 1940s and 1950s at these events to make it seem like the whole of Tibet at the time was poverty-stricken and in the same condition,” the person said. “While it’s true that Tibet has witnessed development since the Chinese first invaded the country, the fact remains that many of the world’s free countries also underwent significant development over the same period, without the need for any ‘peaceful liberation,’” they said. Mao’s government invaded Tibet in 1950 and subsequently took over the region completely in 1959 after a failed uprising by locals, which led Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and thousands of followers to flee into exile across the border in India and elsewhere in the world. Chinese officials have exercised a tight grip on the region ever since, restricting Tibetans’ political activities and expression of cultural and religious identity. In October, Beijing changed Tibet’s romanized name to “Xizang” to further erode its independent identity. 17-point agreement As part of its propaganda campaign on Mao’s birthday, the source inside Tibet told RFA, Chinese authorities were again promoting the idea that the Dalai Lama in 1951 signed the “17-Point Agreement” with Beijing and had promised Mao in a telegram he would abide by it. Experts and rights groups, however, say the Tibetan side was forced to sign the document under duress by the occupying Chinese forces, who threatened all-out war if they declined. The Dalai Lama later repudiated the agreement after arriving in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, just across Tibet’s border. The source said it was a tense time for Tibetans, with many forced to bite their tongues as the local Chinese authorities celebrated Mao. “Any Tibetan who tries to share the real facts about Tibet’s past – in particular Tibet’s history as an independent country – is immediately apprehended by Chinese police and faces their wrath,” they said. Tibet Policy Institute director Dawa Tsering said the forced celebrations for Mao seemed particularly twisted given many Tibetans know some of the worst atrocities against their forebears occurred under his rule. “The ‘peaceful liberation of Tibet’ was in reality a forceful occupation of Tibet by Chinese authorities, who brutally tortured Tibetans for opposing the occupation and compelling the helpless Tibetans, under duress, to sign the 17-Point Agreement,” Tsering told RFA. Nyima Woeser, a researcher at the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, which is based in Dharamsala, India, added that more than 1 million Tibetans are estimated to have been killed at the hands of Chinese “oppressive policies” in Tibet since Mao’s 1950 invasion. “Every year, the human rights abuses inside Tibet continue to worsen … with no sign of a let-up,” Woeser said.

King Charles III launches the Coronation Food Project on his birthday. He announced it by appearing on the cover of the Big Issue magazine for the homeless. Britain's King Charles celebrates his 75th birthday on Tuesday. He will use the occasion to officially launch the Coronation Food Project to tackle food poverty and reduce waste. With his wife, Queen Camilla, Charles is going to spend his birthday visiting a surplus food distribution center. He will also meet with major British supermarkets to see how his project can help redistribute food that would otherwise go to waste. Charles, who held a celebratory event for other individuals and organizations also turning 75 on Monday, will also host a reception on Tuesday to celebrate the work of nurses and midwives as part of events marking 75 years of the National Health Service. What has Charles said about the project? The Coronation Food Project, which aims to stop people going hungry, has already been announced in The Big Issue magazine, which is usually sold by street vendors, many of whom are homeless. In his article for the magazine, the King wrote: "For many years, I have been deeply concerned about the amount of food which goes to waste across our nation. At every stage of the food production process, millions of tonnes of food are sadly discarded." "Food need is as real and urgent a problem as food waste — and if a way could be found to bridge the gap between them, then it would address two problems in one," Charles said. "It is my great hope that this Coronation Food Project will find practical ways to do just that — rescuing more surplus food, and distributing it to those who need it most," he added. Food insecurity in Britain According to the project, 14 million people in Britain face food insecurity, and the rising cost of living has pushed even more into food poverty. Charities say there has been a 38% rise in those using food banks for the first time in the year to March 2023. The Coronation Food Project aims to support the delivery of 200 million meals to people experiencing food insecurity in the UK. King Charles's own history with The Big Issue goes back decades. He opened a magazine's office not long after the organization was founded in the 1990s.  Charles's son, the Prince of Wales, William, sold The Big Issue undercover last year and also appeared on the cover to mark his 40th birthday.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's youngest son Shaheed Sheikh Russell's 60th birthday is being observed on Wednesday, October 18. Russell, also the youngest brother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was born on this day in 1964 at the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi road number 32 in the capital.   But he was brutally assassinated along with most of his family members, including his father Bangabandhu, on August 15, 1975 when he was a student of class four at University Laboratory School. To mark the day, government bodies, ruling Awami League and its associate bodies and different socio-cultural organizations will observe various programmes at national and international levels. Source: BSS

The 69th birthday of Sheikh Rehana, younger daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nesa Mujib, is being celebrated on Tuesday. She was born on September 13 in 1955, at Mitford Hospital in Dhaka.  In 1975, August 15, Bangabandhu's entire family except his two daughters was brutally assassinated in that time Sheikh Rehana was in West Germany with her elder sister Sheikh Hasina. She was placed under house arrest in Dhanmondi along with her family by the Pakistan Army during Bangladesh Liberation War.  She married Professor. Dr. Shafiq Ahmed Siddique and they have three children - a son and two daughters. Their son Radwan Mujib Siddiq is working in an international organization and a trustee of Awami League's research wing Centre for Research and Information (CRI), daughter Tulip Siddiq is a Labour Party MP of British Parliament and youngest daughter Azmina Siddiq Ruponti is working as Global Risks Analysis Editor of London-based the Control Risks.

Tibetan Buddhist monks in Shimla performed traditional Cham (Lama Dance) to celebrate the birthday of the Guru Padmasambhava. Scores of monks assembled at Dorjeedak Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Panthaghati near Shimla. Through these rituals, Buddhist monks paid offerings for compassion and world peace. Before the dance performance, the monks and other Tibetan offered prayers for Guru Padmasambhava. The Buddhist monks through Lama Dance enacted the drama of the arrival of the 8 reincarnations of Lord Padmasambhava and welcomed the lord here. This dance is performed with traditional Tibetan musical instruments and monks wear masks and traditional hats and caps. The Buddhist monks here believe that this is performed to pay respect to guru Padmasambhava. The day of the dance performance is celebrated as his birthday. All Buddhist monks pray for the long life of the Dalai Lama and also other high Lamas. Tibetan monks also offer prayers for world peace and perform dances to preserve their centuries-old tradition. "According to the lunar calendar of Tibet, the Birthday of the Guru Rinpoche (Guru Padmasambhava) is celebrated on the 10th day of the 4th month of the Tibetan calendar.  All these Lamas and monks are doing the ritual dance for the offering. We are practising the preaching of the Guru Padmasambhava. We are reminding his teachings and performing rituals and preaching is important for world peace," said Shedup Mipham, a Tibetan Buddhist monk and secretary at Dorjeedak Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. People from the Tibetan community gathered here also to see the rich traditional dances of the Buddhist monks. The local residents of the Tibetan Buddhist community in exile here are pleased to take part in the Buddhist chanting. The local residents of the Tibetan Community here believe that the preaching of the Guru is important in propagating Buddhism and the message of compassion and peace.

The 76th birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was celebrated across the country today through different programmes.   On September 28 in 1947, Sheikh Hasina, the eldest of the five children of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, was born at Tungipara in Gopalganj.   In celebration of the birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is now in the United States in connection with the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, central leaders of Awami League (AL) wished her long life and success in politics.   Like previous years, the AL and its affiliated organisations celebrated the day through various events and discussions on the life and achievements of Sheikh Hasina, who is driving the nation towards prosperity following the footsteps of her father.   The programmes included holding blood donation and tree plantation campaigns, arranging colourful rallies and discussions, cutting cakes, cloth distribution, food distribution and offering special doa and milad mahfils seeking long-life and good health of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.   The same programmes were taken at the district, metropolitan, upazila, municipal and union levels in the country.   A discussion was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital this afternoon marking the birthday of Sheikh Hasina.   Chaired by AL presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury, the discussion was addressed, among others, by AL general secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, AL presidium members - Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Shajahan Khan , Abdur Rahman and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, joint general secretaries –Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni , Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organizing secretaries Ahmed Hossain , B M Mozammel Haque and  Advocate Afzal Hossain, Secretary of the Liberation War Affairs Advocate Mrinal Kanti Das, Secretary of Relief and Social Welfare Shri Sujit Roy Nandi, Secretary of Science and Technology Affairs Engineer Md Abdus Sabur, Secretary of Labor and Manpower Habibur Rahman Siraj, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Secretary of Women Affairs Maher Afroz Chumki, AL's Dhaka City North City unit President Sheikh Bazlur Rahman and Dhaka South City AL president Abu Ahmad Mannafi.   Deputy Secretary of Publicity and Publishing Aminul Islam conducted it.    Marking the day, the Sheikh Russel Jatiya Shishu Kishore Parishad organized a discussion at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.   With Secretary General (Moha Sachip) of the organization KM Shahidullah in the chair, it was addressed, among others, by AL Presidium Member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim and organizing Secretary Mirza Azam.   Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote organized a discussion at National Press Club marking the 76th birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.   State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury addressed it as the chief guest with President of Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote Falguni Hamid in the chair.    Besides, special prayers were offered at all mosques of the country including Baitul Mukarram national mosque alongside holding milad-mahfils.    A special prayer was offered at the Dhakeshwari National Temple in the city at 11 am wishing sound health and long life of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.   Earlier, special prayers were also offered at Dharmarajik Buddist Mohabihar (Basabo Sabujbagh) at 10 am while Christian Association Bangladesh (CAB), Mirpur Baptist Church (3/7/A Senpara, Parvata, Mirpur-10) held prayers at 9 am in the presence of central Al leaders.   Meanwhile, Dhaka North City Unit of Jubo League organized a discussion and distributed sarees and lungis among the needy people on the premises of Friends Club ground in city's Uttara Sector-3 area.   With Dhaka City North Jubo League acting President Jakir Hossain Babul in the chair, the discussion was conducted by General Secretary Ismail Hossain.   Awami Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, Member of Parliament (MP) from Dhaka-18 constituency Mohammad Habib Hasan and Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil also spoke it.    After the assassination of her parents in 1975, Sheikh Hasina and her family were offered political asylum in India, where she stayed till 1981 when she was elected as the president of the Awami League in her absence.   Sheikh Hasina returned home on May 17, 1981 when she was greeted by a mammoth crowd that extended from the Airport to Farm Gate and Manik Miah Avenue and she addressed a public rally.   In the 1986 parliamentary election, Sheikh Hasina was elected as parliament member from three different constituencies. After the overthrow of autocracy in 1990, she was elected as the Leader of the Opposition in the House.   In 1996 general elections, 21 years after her father's assassination, Sheikh Hasina led the Awami League and helped the party assume power and became the Prime Minister for the first time.   On August 21, 2004, Sheikh Hasina, the then opposition leader, barely escaped an assassination attempt as grenades were lobbed at an AL rally on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital.   Although she survived the attack, at least 24 people were killed and over 500 others injured. Most of them were Awami League leaders and supporters.   In 2008, she led the Grand Alliance to an overwhelming victory acquiring 90 percent of parliament seats in the general elections. She was elected the Prime Minister on January 5, 2014 for the second time in a row. Sheikh Hasina assumed office of the Prime Minister for third consecutive term with a thumping victory in general elections in December 2018.   Under her leadership, Bangladesh has become a role model for development, attaining steady economic growth, becoming self-sufficient in food and attaining a marked progress in the fields of women empowerment, agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, communication, energy and power, trade and commerce, ICT and the SME sectors.

The 76th birthday of Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will be celebrated across the country today. Sheikh Hasina, the eldest among the five children of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, was born at Tungipara in Gopalganj on September 28 in 1947. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is now in the USA as she went there to join the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Following the footprint of Bangabandhu, she also delivered speech in Bangla at the UNGA like the previous years. Like the previous years, Awami League (AL) and its affiliated and likeminded bodies will celebrate the day through various programmes highlighting the life and achievements of Sheikh Hasina, who is driving the nation towards prosperity following the footstep of her father. On the occasion, discussions, milad and doa mahfils and special prayers will be organised in the capital and across the country. Sheikh Hasina spent much of her childhood in the small hamlet where she was born. She started her schooling there. When Bangabandhu was elected a legislator, his family moved to Dhaka in 1954.   She was admitted to what is now Sher-e-Bangla Girls' School and College and later to Azimpur Girls' High School from where she completed her secondary education in 1965. She was then admitted to Badrunnessa Government Girls' College. During her bachelor course, she was elected as the vice-president of the students' union of Eden Girls' College (Badrunnessa and Eden Girls' College was a single entity during the period). Later, she enrolled in her Masters' programme in Bangla at Dhaka University. As a student leader, Sheikh Hasina actively participated in the historic six-point movement of 1966 and the student movement of 1969 which saw the abdication of General Ayub Khan. In 1968, with the blessings of her imprisoned father, Sheikh Hasina, who is leading the country as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term, married nuclear scientist Dr MA Wazed Miah. During the Liberation War, Sheikh Hasina and her family were interned in a house in Dhaka. On July 27 in 1971, her first child Sajeeb Wazed Joy was born. Her second child Saima Wazed Hossain was born on December 9, 1972.   After the assassination of her parents in 1975, Sheikh Hasina and her family were offered political asylum in India, where she stayed till 1981 when she was elected as the president of the Awami League in her absence.   Sheikh Hasina returned home on May 17, 1981 when she was greeted by a mammoth crowd that extended from the Airport to Farm Gate and Manik Miah Avenue and she addressed a public rally.   In the 1986 parliamentary election, Sheikh Hasina was elected as parliament member from three different constituencies. After the overthrow of autocracy in 1990, she was elected as the Leader of the Opposition in the House.   In 1996 general elections, 21 years after her father's assassination, Sheikh Hasina led the Awami League and helped the party assume power and became the Prime Minister for the first time.   On August 21, 2004, Sheikh Hasina, the then opposition leader, barely escaped an assassination attempt as grenades were lobbed at an AL rally on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital.   Although she survived the attack, at least 24 people were killed and over 500 others injured. Most of them were Awami League leaders and supporters.   In 2008, she led the Grand Alliance to an overwhelming victory acquiring 90 percent of parliament seats in the general elections. She was elected the Prime Minister on January 5, 2014 for the second time in a row.   Sheikh Hasina assumed office of the Prime Minister for third consecutive term with a thumping victory in general elections in December 2018. Under her leadership, Bangladesh has become a role model for development, attaining steady economic growth, becoming self-sufficient in food and attaining a marked progress in the fields of women empowerment, agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, communication, energy and power, trade and commerce, ICT and the SME sectors.   Her most recent role in extending humanitarian support to over 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar, who took shelter in Cox's Bazar, drew accolades from global leaders, international forums and institutions and eminent personalities.   The UK-based 'Channel 4' dubbed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina the 'Mother of Humanity' in 2017 after she gave refuge to hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas fleeing persecution in Myanmar's Rakhine State. The government introduced an award named after it. Asiatic Society of Kolkata honoured Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the prestigious "Tagore Peace Award-2018" in recognition of her contribution to maintaining regional peace and prosperity. President of Kolkata Asiatic Society Professor Isha Mohammed handed over the award to Sheikh Hasina at a function at Taj Mahal Hotel in the Indian capital on October 5, 2019. She also received the prestigious 'Vaccine Hero' award given in recognition of Bangladesh's outstanding success in vaccination.   Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisations (GAVI) handed over the award to the Premier at a ceremony at the Conference Room of the UN Headquarters in New York during the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2019.   The Premier was conferred with the award 'Champion of Skill Development for Youth' for Bangladesh's great success in youth skill development.   The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) conferred the award on the Premier at a ceremony at Labouisse Hall of UNICEF House in the UN Plaza on September 26 in 2019.   UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore handed over the award to the Prime Minister amid thunderous clapping of the audience.   Sheikh Hasina also received the Dr Kalam Smriti International Excellence Awards-2019, introduced in memory of eminent scientist and former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.   The award was conferred upon Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in recognition of her commitment to a close and mutually satisfying India-Bangladesh relations, welfare of her people, particularly women and children, and international peace and cooperation. Chief Adviser of the Dr Kalam Smriti International Advisory Council Ambassador TP Sreenivasan handed over the accolade through a ceremony at the Prime Minister's Office here on September 16, 2019.   Sheikh Hasina was also conferred with various honourary degrees, accolades and awards in recognition of her leadership excellence and intellectual flair.   These include: honorary Doctor of Laws by the Waseda University of Japan, honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Liberal Arts by University of Abertay Dundee, UK, honorary Degree of Desikottama by Visva-Bharati University of West Bengal, India, honorary Doctor of Laws by the Australian National University, honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the Bridgeport University, USA, honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Dhaka, Paul Haris Fellowship by the Rotary International, UNESCO's Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize in 1998, M K Gandhi Award in 1998, Mother Teresa Award in 1998 and 2006, Pearl S. Buck Award by Randolph Macon Women's College of USA in 1999, CERES Medal in 1999, UN Award for MDG achievement (child mortality) in 2010, Indira Gandhi Peace Prize in 2009, South-South Award in 2011, UN Award for MDG Achievement in 2013, Rotary Peace Prize in 2013, Tree of Peace in 2014, ICT Sustainable Development Award in 2015, Champions of the Earth in 2015, Agent of Change Award in 2016 and Planet 50-50 Champion in 2016. In 2018, Sheikh Hasina appeared in the title role in a docudrama "Hasina: A Daughter's Tale", directed by Rezaur Rahman Khan Piplu. She penned more than 25 books. Her notable books are 'Mujib Amar Pita', 'Living in Tears', 'Sada Kalo', 'Amara Janaganer Kotha Bolte Esechhi'. Source: BSS AH