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Cyprus Airways shuts down after EU order on state aid

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Nicosia: Cypriot national airline, Cyprus Airways was shut down following a European Commission ruling Friday that the company had illegally received state aid.

Cypriot Minister of Finance, Harris Georgiades and Minister of Communications, Marios Demetriades said at a joint press conference that the licence of the government-owned company was revoked and its flying programme terminated with immediate effect, according to a report.

The ministers also announced alternative arrangements for Cyprus Airways passengers following the termination of the ailing carrier’s operations.

“These alternative arrangements… are possible to include the use of chartered airplanes, the transportation of passengers with another airline to his or her destination… or any combination of the above,” the ministers said in a statement.

The decision to immediately shut down the Cypriot national air carrier, which was established in 1947, came after the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union (EU), announced that Cyprus Airways would have to pay back about 100 million euros (about $118 million) in state aid it has received since 2007.

“Cyprus Airways needs to pay back all incompatible aid received,” EU Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager said.

The commissioner ruled that the state aid gave the company an undue advantage over its competitors in breach of EU rules.

The commission also found that Cyprus Airways “had no realistic perspective of becoming viable without continued state subsidies” and that injecting more money into the company would not achieve a turn-around”.

Cyprus government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides had said earlier that the government was prepared for any scenario, having made plans for the establishment of a new airline in association with the private sector so as to safeguard air communication in the island country.

He also said that the government made provisions for the company’s 500-strong staff.

Several staff members gathered outside Cyprus Airways headquarters in protest of its closure as the board met inside the building to plan the company’s winding down.

Cyprus Stock Exchange had announced that it decided to delist the company’s shares as of Jan 13 after it failed to submit preliminary financial statements from 2012 onwards.

Efforts by the government last year to sell Cyprus Airways either to the low-cost airline Ryanair or Greece’s Aegean Airlines failed as they did not follow their initial expression of interest with firm offers.

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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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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.

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