National
Modi leaves for Palestine, West Asia tour
New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday left on a first-ever Indian prime ministerial visit to Palestine, a four-day trip will also take him to Jordan as well as the UAE and Oman in the Gulf.
The External Affairs Ministry said the visit was aimed at deepening “our multifaceted ties with the Gulf and West Asian region”.
Officials said energy and security cooperation, trade and investment and counter-terror efforts will top Modi’s agenda during the February 9-12 trip to the region.
Before embarking on the visit, the Prime Minister tweeted that the Gulf and West Asian region was a “key priority in our external engagement”.
After arriving in Amman, he is expected to meet King Abdullah II of Jordan who will facilitate his transit to Palestine on Saturday.
“I am grateful to Abdullah for facilitating the transit and look forward to meeting him in Amman,” Modi said before leaving.
Modi will be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Palestine where he will meet President Mahmoud Abbas. “Looking forward to my discussions with President Abbas and reaffirming our support for the Palestinian people and the development of Palestine.”
The Palestinian President, in a pre-arrival welcome statement, described Modi’s visit as “historic and significant”.
In both Oman and the United Arab Emirates, Modi was expected to meet the Indian diaspora which he described as “a bridge of friendship between India and the Gulf countries”.
He is also scheduled to interact with UAE and Arab CEOs in Dubai on the economic opportunities in India.
An External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said the visit would redefine “our neighbourhood from a maritime perspective” when Modi arrives in Oman — a close maritime neighbour of India.
Modi is expected to hold talks with the Sultan of Oman and other leaders.
There shall be interactions with business people of Oman on developing stronger economic links with India, Modi said.
In the UAE, he will hold talks with Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.
“At the invitation of the leadership of the UAE, I will be addressing the 6th edition of the World Government Summit in Dubai where India is the guest country of honour,” Modi said.
As many as 12 agreements are expected to be signed during Modi’s visit to the UAE. The agreements will include areas like finance and skills development.
–IANS
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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.