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IS advance no danger to New Zealand forces in Iraq: PM

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Wellington: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on Tuesday dismissed calls to pull New Zealand troops out of Iraq as Islamic State (IS) militants advanced to within 100 km of their base.

Key told Radio New Zealand that his defence and national security advisors had informed him that New Zealand troops at Camp Taji, just north of Baghdad, were in no greater danger after IS forces overran Ramadi.

But the situation was being constantly monitored by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and if it changed the government could withdraw the soldiers.

“There’s a thorough process that we go through, there are officials that meet and there’s early warning systems of making sure that if the situation needs to be reviewed it will reviewed,” Xinhua news agency quoted Key as telling the radio station.

“But none of those have been triggered and at this point there’s no likelihood they’ll be triggered.”

However, opposition lawmakers said the IS advance, along with US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s criticism that Iraqi forces lacked the “will to fight”, emphasised the futility of the NZDF’s mission.

Taji, where New Zealand and Australian troops run a joint mission to train Iraqi government forces, was now within striking distance of the IS just 100 km away, said the main opposition Labour Party.

“There are now risks of not only rocket and artillery assaults on the base using captured United States equipment, but the camp being surrounded,” Labour defence spokesperson Phil Goff said in a statement.

“The Iraqi soldiers’ lack of will to fight is due to poor leadership and corruption so extensive they often don’t get equipment and supplies,” said Goff.

“Dealing with these key problems are outside the ability of our troops.”

The opposition Green Party said the government should pull New Zealand troops out of the “Middle East quagmire”.

“The premise of New Zealand’s military commitment is training the Iraqi army. It is clear the Iraqi army is not equipped or prepared to fight the Islamic State, so why are we there?” Green Party defence spokesperson Kennedy Graham said in a statement.

“With the exception of self-defence, New Zealand should never support any military action that is not explicitly authorised by the UN Security Council and within international law.”

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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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