World
Washington Metro transit cop arrested for intending to help IS
Washington:A Washington Metro transit police officer was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly trying to provide “material support” to the Islamic State.
The US Department of Justice said in a statement that Officer Nicholas Young, 36, of Fairfax, Virginia, was arrested at the Metro police headquarters, thus becoming the first US law enforcement officer to be accused of trying to help the jihadist group.
However, Young never posed a credible threat to the Washington Metro, the country’s second most heavily travelled subway system after the one in New York, according to what Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, told NBC News.
The officer appeared briefly in court on Wednesday to be arraigned, EFE news reported.
According to the accusation filed against him, Young had worked as a Metro Transit Police officer since 2003 and had been under surveillance by the FBI since 2010 due to several interactions with an informer and undercover agents.
In 2011, Young met a number of times with an undercover agent and some acquaintances, including Amine El Khalifi, who later pleaded guilty to planning a suicide bombing at the US Congress in 2012.
Also in 2011, Young travelled twice to Libya, where he met with rebels trying to topple the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. On one trip, he travelled with body armour, a Kevlar helmet and other military-style items, the accusation said.
In an e-mail Young sent in 2015 to the informant, whom he thought had contacts with the IS, he asked how he could send money to IS leaders.
In July, Young bought 22 telephone gift cards for $245 to be used to send messages from accounts that the IS allegedly used to recruit terrorists, EFE news reported.
He sent the cards’ code numbers to an undercover FBI agent, according to the accusation.
If found guilty of the charges against him, Young could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
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.