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Australia refuses apology to ex-Guantanamo Bay prisoner

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10 years ago

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Canberra: The Australian government Friday continued its refusal to apologise to a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner despite the US overturning his conviction for supporting terrorism.

David Hicks, who was held in Guantanamo Bay for five years between 2002 and 2007 after being captured in Afghanistan and wrongly convicted under the Military Commissions Act, had his name cleared Thursday after it was found that the charge did not exist at the time of his arrest, as per reported.

His father immediately called for official apologies from both the Australian and American governments for supporting his conviction.

However, Australia has been quick to reject such proposals.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said “not now, not ever” would he apologise to Hicks, adding, “He was up to no good, on his own admission”.

Australian attorney general George Brandis questioned Hicks’s motives for being in Afghanistan and challenged the legalities of the verdict reached by the US government.

“The review was about the validity of the US law under which he was convicted, not about whether he carried out the activities of which he was accused,” Brandis said.

“Hicks has made a number of admissions that he undertook training with militia and terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and that he had met Osama Bin Laden on many occasions and considered him a brother.”

Meanwhile, John Howard, Australia’s Prime Minister at the time of Hicks’s arrest, echoed Brandis’ comments and released a statement that read “The US verdict is about the legal process in that country”.

“Nothing alters the fact that by his own admission, Hicks trained with Al-Qaeda, met Osama Bin Laden on several occasions, describing him as a brother.”

“He reveled in Jihad. He is not owed an apology by any Australian government,” the statement added.

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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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2 months ago

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September 19, 2024

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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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