World
Seoul conducts maritime drills ahead of Kim-Moon summit
Seoul, March 26 (IANS) South Korea conducted maritime drills on Monday to commemorate the sinking of one of its ships by the North, even as preparations for an upcoming summit between the leaders of the two nations in late April are in full swing.
Around 10 ships and several aircraft were deployed in the Sea of Japan (known as the East Sea in two Koreas), a South Korean Defence Ministry spokesperson told Efe news.
The drills have been conducted every year since 2011 and this year marked the eighth year of the Cheonan sinking incident in the Yellow Sea that had killed 46 crew members.
An international probe had concluded that the ship sank after it was torpedoed by a North Korean submarine. A small ceremony in memory of the victims was also held, the spokesperson added.
This year, the South Korean Navy did not make any official announcement about the drills to avoid escalating tension between the two countries ahead of the proposed summit between Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April.
The North Korean leader is also expected to meet US President Donald Trump in May to discuss the possible denuclearisation of the North Korean regime.
However, the North Korean media on Sunday had accused Seoul of hampering the current climate of rapprochement between the two countries by deploying stealth jets and acquiring more long-range missiles.
The meeting in April would be the first inter-Korean summit in 11 years while the one in May would be the first ever summit between the leaders of North Korea and the US after seven decades of conflict and 25 years of failed negotiations and tensions over North Korea’s nuclear programme.
–IANS
soni/bg
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.