World
Trump says freed basketball players should thank Xi Jinping
Washington, Nov 16 (IANS) The US President on Thursday said three college basketball players freed by China after being arrested for shoplifting should thank the Asian nation’s head of state for intervening on their behalf.
In a news conference on Wednesday in Los Angeles, the three University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) players delivered prepared statements in which they expressed regret for their actions and thanked US President Donald Trump for his administration’s efforts to secure their release from custody.
“To the three UCLA basketball players I say: You’re welcome, go out and give a big Thank You to President Xi Jinping of China who made your release possible and, HAVE A GREAT LIFE! Be careful, there are many pitfalls on the long and winding road of life!” Trump tweeted.
On Wednesday, Trump took credit for the release of LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill and said his intervention had spared them a potential 10-year prison sentence.
“Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say thank you President Trump? They were headed for 10 years in jail!” the President wrote on Twitter.
The three players arrived in Los Angeles late on Tuesday, almost a week after being arrested on November 8 on charges of stealing merchandise, including designer sunglasses, from stores at a high-end mall in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.
The UCLA team was in China to play their season-opening game against Georgia Tech in Shanghai, a contest the California squad won 63-60 last Friday despite being without the services of those three players.
Trump, who returned this week from a 13-day tour of Asia, visited Beijing shortly after the American players were arrested and discussed their situation with Xi.
“What they did was unfortunate. You know you’re talking about very long prison sentences. (The Chinese) do not play games,” Trump said, adding that Xi had been “terrific on that subject.”
UCLA has indefinitely suspended the players, who will not be allowed to travel or practice with their teammates while the university conducts a review of the thefts.
“These young men will have to prove in their words and their actions that this is not who they are,” UCLA head coach Steve Alford said, adding that the players had shown an “inexcusable lapse of judgement”.
–IANS
ahm/dg
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.