World
Tens of thousands in Brazil bid farewell to plane crash victims
Brasilia: Tens of thousands of people packed the stadium in the southern Brazilian city of Chapeco to bid an emotional farewell to players and other members of the Chapecoense soccer team who died in a plane crash earlier this week in Colombia.
Despite the overall mood of sadness that marked the rain-drenched mass wake, the crowd on Saturday chanted in unison “the champion has returned” when the host promised that the club devastated by Monday night’s accident would rebuild itself with the “joy, faith and hope that these players represented”, EFE news reported.
Like they did on Wednesday, the scheduled date for the first leg of the now-cancelled Copa Sudamericana final pitting Chapecoense against Medellin, Colombia-based Atletico Nacional, players from the modest 43-year-old club’s lower-level squads took the field at Arena Conda to show it still has hope and a future. A huge banner inside the stadium reading “A Hero Doesn’t Die. He Becomes a Legend” summed up the crowd’s affection for its beloved club, which had climbed steadily up the ranks of Brazilian soccer in recent years from the fourth division to the league’s top flight.
Coffins with the remains of 50 of the 71 victims arrived early on Saturday at the airport in Chapeco where they were received with military honours in a brief ceremony headed by Brazilian President Michel Temer before being taken to the stadium. Temer had only planned to take part in that ceremony but eventually went to the stadium for the mass tribute after receiving criticism from some of the victims’ relatives.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, former soccer great Carles Puyol and current Real Madrid midfielder Lucas Silva of Brazil were on hand for the tribute. Chapecoense players, executives, coaches and other staff, along with special guests, journalists and a crew of nine, were on board the charter flight operated by Bolivia’s Lamia airlines.Six people, including three players, survived the crash.
The pilot had been given priority to land after frantically alerting the control tower that the plane was running dangerously low on fuel, but he did not have enough time to get to the runway. The Brazilian victims of the plane crash included 19 Chapecoense players, 25 executives, coaches and special guests of the club, as well as a score of journalists.
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.