World
UN chief outraged by destruction of Iraq’s cultural heritage
United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that he “is outraged by the continuing destruction of cultural heritage in Iraq” by the Islamic State (IS), and urgently called on the “international community to swiftly put a stop to such heinous terrorist activity”.
The secretary-general is outraged by the continued destruction of cultural heritage in Iraq by the IS amid reports of the razing of the ancient city of Hatra, a Unesco World Heritage Site in the north of the country, Ban’s spokesman said a statement issued here on Sunday night, a news agency reported.
“The secretary-general reiterates that the deliberate destruction of our common cultural heritage constitutes a war crime and that the perpetrators must be held to account,” the statement said.
“The secretary-general urgently calls on the international community to swiftly put a stop to such heinous terrorist activity and to counter the illicit traffic in cultural artifacts,” as demanded by relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the statement said.
The Unesco also condemned the destruction of the ancient city and said that it showed the “contempt” that the IS has for the history and heritage of the Arab people.
IS militants, who control large areas of Iraq and Syria, have destroyed ruins at the ancient city of Hatra and the extent of the damage remained unclear, reports said.
Hatra was set up in the days of the Parthian empire more than 2,000 years ago.
The militants recently bulldozed ruins at the Assyrian city of Nimrud and destroyed museum artefacts in Mosul in north Iraq as IS describes shrines and statues as “false idols” that have to be smashed.
The UN Security Council has adopted relevant resolutions to call for strengthened international efforts to fight the IS.
Iraq is facing an insurgency by the IS Sunni radical group, which has forced thousands of people mainly from minority communities to flee their homes.
The group, whose fighters had seized vast swathes of territory in northern Iraq since June 2014 and announced the establishment of a “caliphate” in areas under its control in Syria and Iraq, has released videos showing the beheadings of at least two American journalists and a British aid worker.
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.