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IS seizes control of Syrian city of Palmyra

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Beirut: Islamic State forces on Wednesday seized control of the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria’s head of antiquities said.

“This is a disaster for the entire world, not just for the Syrians,” Maamoun Abdul Karim said by telephone from Damascus, referring to the threat posed by IS to Palmyra’s famed 2,000-year-old ruins.

Authorities managed to remove around 100 statues before IS fighters reached the Roman-era archaeological site on the city’s southwestern edge, Abdul Karim said.

Small groups of government soldiers and other opponents of IS remain in and around Palmyra, he said.

Syrian state television reported that army troops and pro-government militias withdrew after evacuating the remaining civilian residents from Palmyra, significant not only for its archaeological treasures but also for its strategic location in the central province of Homs.

Army units remain on roads leading to Palmyra and the air force is carrying out strikes against “concentrations of terrorists who have infiltrated” the city, according to state television.

Samer al-Homsi, an opposition activist, said via internet that IS established full control over Palmyra after the “sudden” withdrawal of government forces in the direction of the phosphate mines at Khnifiss.

IS fighters entered Palmyra from the north early on Wednesday, three days after being driven out by the army and its allies.

A week into their latest offensive in Homs province, the jihadis have taken several cities, as well as the al-Arak and al-Hil gas fields.

Palmyra, an oasis in the Syrian desert, was a leading cultural centre in the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. and later became an important stop for Silk Road caravans.

Prior to the start of Syria’s civil war, in March 2011, the Palmyra ruins were one of the country’s foremost tourist attractions.

The head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, which has designated the Palmyra ruins as a World Heritage Site, appealed on Wednesday for a cease-fire.

“I am deeply concerned by the situation at the site of Palmyra. The fighting is putting at risk one of the most significant sites in the Middle East, and its civilian population,” UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova said in a statement.

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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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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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