World
Obama unveils actions to curb gun violence
Washington:US President Barack Obama on Tuesday unveiled some executive measures on gun control, including expanding background checks, calling for “a sense of urgency” about gun violence.
Anybody in the business of selling firearms must get a license and conduct background checks or be subject to criminal prosecutions, Obama said at the White House, joined by gun control activists and the families of gun victims.
He said his administration will hire more people to process background checks to make the system more efficient and add 200 more agents and investigators to ensure the “smart and effective” enforcement of gun safety laws, Xinhua news agency reported.
The administration will also invest $500 million to expand access to the treatment of mental illness across the country, he said.
Every year, more than 30,000 Americans lose their lives by guns, Obama said, adding that the US is “the only advanced country on the Earth that sees this kind of mass violence erupt with this kind of frequency”.
“We do have to feel a sense of urgency about it,” he said. “In Dr (Martin Luther) King’s words, the fierce urgency of now, because people are dying.”
Obama became emotional and shed tears when he talked about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, when 20 children and six adult staff members were fatally shot.
“Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad,” the president said, wiping away tears as he pleaded for citizens and lawmakers to be more resolute in preventing gun violence.
Obama’s gun-control measures are seen as an attempt to sidestep Congress on an issue that is increasingly partisan.
Obama emphasised that the new measures are “actions within my legal authority that we can take to help reduce gun violence”, calling on Congress to get on board with common sense gun safety measures.
“The gun lobby may be holding Congress hostage right now but they can’t hold America hostage,” Obama said.
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.