Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Indonesia's highest state honour, the Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia, from President Prabowo Subianto during his two-day visit. The award recognizes extraordinary service and strengthening bilateral relations.
Dozens of EU MPs call for Ukraine's President Zelensky to be stripped of the European Order of Merit for glorifying WWII Nazi collaborators, specifically the UPA, responsible for the Volhynia massacre of 100,000 Polish civilians.
Hans W. Geißendörfer, producer of the former ARD series "Lindenstraße", and actors Georg Uecker and Claus Vinçon have been awarded the Order of Merit of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The series was recognized for its role in reflecting societal changes and addressing taboo subjects like homosexuality and AIDS.
Claudio Ranieri, former coach of Cagliari and Roma, received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in Cagliari. The award recognizes his ability to achieve excellence and inspire his teams. He will also be presented with the parchment of honorary citizenship.
Former Polish Ambassador to Ukraine Bartosz Cichocki returned the Order of Merit to President Zelensky in protest against the naming of a Ukrainian military center after "UPA heroes," sparking outrage in Poland and leading to calls to strip Zelensky of state awards.
Former Vietnamese Vice President Nguyễn Thị Bình received the Order of Merit from Palestine for her contributions to national independence, peace, and justice, and her unwavering support for the Palestinian people.
Vijay Kumar, the Indian golfer who dominated the domestic tour by winning the Order of Merit for four consecutive years from 1995 to 2000, has passed away at age 57. Born to a Railways worker in Lucknow's Martinpurva village, Vijay rose from humble beginnings to become one of India's most successful professional golfers, known for his stoic demeanor and dominance on the Indian circuit.
