World
Missing soldier abducted by FARC: Colombian army
Bogota: A soldier who went missing last Friday after a clash with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas was kidnapped by the rebels, the Colombian army announced Monday.
The kidnapped soldier was identified as Carlos Becerra Ojeda, whose “immediate release and the preservation of his physical and moral integrity” was demanded by the army in a communique.
The clash occurred in Colombia’s Santander de Quilichao municipality Dec 19, a day before the unilateral and open-ended ceasefire declared by the FARC.
Five soldiers were reportedly killed in the fighting, five were wounded and one was declared missing.
According to the army, “offensive military operations are under way against a mobile column of the FARC”, and Becerra Ojeda “was kidnapped by this terrorist group”.
“Under the directives of the National Army Command, all necessary actions have been undertaken to learn the whereabouts of the soldier, and they will (continue) until his release is achieved,” the announcement said.
In November, the kidnapping of army general Ruben Dario Alzate, along with a soldier and a civilian, who were accompanying him on a visit to the village of Las Mercedes, led the Colombian government to suspend the peace talks with the FARC.
The FARC released Alzate and his companions a few days later and also freed two other soldiers who had been captured after a clash in Arauca, on the border with Venezuela, whereupon the peace talks were resumed.
At the close of the latest round of the talks, the FARC announced a unilateral and open-ended ceasefire that began last Saturday. Since then, there have been no reports of armed action undertaken by the guerrillas.
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.