World
Coastal areas evacuated as Cyclone Pam batters New Zealand
Wellington: Remote communities on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island were evacuated on Monday as tropical Cyclone Pam brought gales, torrential rains and huge waves to the coastal areas.
The storm had passed through the north of the North Island and the city of Auckland with little impact, but it had been reclassified as “an intense tropical cyclone” early on Monday, as per reported, citing a statement from the government’s MetService weather bureau.
The centre of the storm was 230km east of East Cape and it still has the power to bring severe weather.
More than 150mm of rain has fallen in the worst-hit Gisborne district in the 24 hours to 2 p.m. on Monday, with one area recording more than 200mm, and wind gusts reaching up to 145km per hour.
“Cyclone Pam is moving south-east and is expected to maintain its intensity, or may even intensify slightly, reaching the Chatham Islands around mid-day on Tuesday. A warning is now in place for severe gales, heavy rain and heavy swells for the Chathams,” it said.
Schools in the Gisborne district were closed on Monday and power was out in many areas.
More than 40 people had been evacuated as a precaution against inundation by the sea and flooding, Gisborne civil defence emergency management controller Peter Higgs said in a statement.
Waves of up to nine metres were expected in parts of the region because of the high winds and swells, but these are expected to reduce to about three to four metres by mid-day on Tuesday.
Civil defence staff are considering further evacuations from low-lying areas.
“We have reports coming in of horizontal rain and a fierce sea rising rapidly,” said Higgs.
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.