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Bilawal resolves to carry forward Benazir’s legacy Bilawal says Benazir's life was embodiment of courage, resilience, and hope for millions of Pakistanis PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addressing an event at the CM House in Karachi on October 14, 2024. — Facebook/@Bilawalhouse ISLAMABAD: Paying glowing tributes to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday commemorated her unparalleled sacrifices, unwavering leadership and enduring legacy for Pakistan and reaffirmed his resolve to carry forward the legacy of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); In his message on the eve 17th martyrdom of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, Bialwal said her life was an embodiment of courage, resilience, and hope for millions of Pakistanis, rooted deeply in the vision of her father, Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Benazir was not just a political figure but a beacon of hope for the marginalized, the oppressed, and the forgotten. “Her unwavering commitment to her father’s vision of an egalitarian and prosperous Pakistan remains an inspiration for all of us,” he said. He said that like Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto believed in the power of the people and the importance of empowering workers, farmers, and the underprivileged as cornerstones for national progress. “Her philosophy of reconciliation, consultation, and understanding diverse perspectives laid the foundation for a forward-looking Pakistan,” he said. Bilawal reaffirmed his resolve to carry forward his mother’s legacy. “We are determined to follow her philosophy of human liberty and democratic norms, continuing our fight against terrorism, extremism, and any forces that threaten Pakistan’s stability,” he stated. In his message, President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed his commitment as the president to advance the vision of Shaheed Benazir of a peaceful, progressive and democratic Pakistan. “Her ideas live on, urging us to rise above differences and build a Pakistan that is united, inclusive, and just. So, let us not merely mourn her loss but commit to follow her enduring legacy.” He said Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was a trailblazer who dreamt of a Pakistan where the rights of all citizens, irrespective of colour, class and creed, would be protected, and the power of the people would reign supreme. Quoting Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, the president said Shaheed Benazir Bhutto once said, “Democracy is the best revenge” and these words were not just a defiant response to tyranny and dictatorship but reflected her profound belief in the transformative power of the people. He said Shaheed Benazir envisioned a Pakistan where every child could access education, where women could progress as equals, and where justice was not a privilege but a right. “Throughout her life, she raised her voice and worked for the uplift of the downtrodden segments of society and women’s empowerment,” he said. “Her legacy is eternal, her courage unmatched, and her vision our guiding star. Pakistan Khappay!,” he concluded. In her message on the occasion, PPP Vice-President and party’s parliamentary leader in the Senate Sherry Rehman paid a heartfelt tribute to the legacy of the trailblazing leader. She said: “Her loss was not just a devastating blow to the PPP; it was an unparalleled tragedy for the nation. The void left by her absence continues to be felt deeply across Pakistan.” She underscored the historical significance of December 27, describing it as one of the darkest days in Pakistan’s history. Sherry Rehman applauded Shaheed Benazir’s transformative contributions to the country’s socio-economic fabric. “Among her many achievements, the Lady Health Worker Programme stands as a testament to her commitment to public health,” Senator Rehman noted. “Lauded as a ‘gold standard’ by the World Bank, this initiative brought healthcare to the doorsteps of millions in rural and underserved areas.” She also underscored the pivotal role of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in uplifting the marginalised, which continues to uplift millions of impoverished families. From the Benazir Kafalat programme offering direct cash transfers, to Benazir Nashonuma, which promotes maternal and child health, and the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif initiative that invests in education, BISP has become a beacon of hope for millions. In a related development, President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Sukkur on a three-day visit to attend the anniversary of his late wife and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Zardari will address the 17th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto at Gharhi Khuda Bux Bhutto on Friday (today). On his arrival, the president was received by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, governors of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and PPP senior leadership. Earlier, talking to the media at the Sukkur Airport, CM Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah said PPP and PPPP activists and leaders from all over the country will pay tribute to martyred Benazir Bhutto on her death anniversary tomorrow. He said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto will be the next prime minister by getting a clear majority in the next general elections. Shah demanded Sindh’s rightful share from the federal government saying the process of releasing provincial funds has been very slow. Talking about PTI’s Imran Khan, Murad Ali Shah said the US has no authority to interfere in the affairs of Pakistan by demanding his release. Imran is involved in cases and courts alone will decide his fate. The PTI founder’s call for civil disobedience will be ignored and will have no effect anywhere in the country. Speaking next, KP’s Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said that the PPP handed over a peaceful Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2013. However, after several years of PTI rule, there is severe unrest in the province. He said the Kurram situation has been mishandled by the provincial government. Kundi said the decision about the governor’s rule has to be taken by the federal government. Such a disposition is allowed under the Constitution. Member PPP CEC Qamar Zaman Kaira said party cadres from all over the country will attend BB’s death anniversary today. Meanwhile, all is set for the death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto here. A 60-foot-wide main stage has been decorated with party flags, and portraits of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, Governor KP and Governor Punjab, Chief Minister Sindh and several other leaders will address the death anniversary. To boost security and surveillance, CCTV cameras have been installed around Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto and other places by Larkana Police, and 8,500 police officers and personnel will also perform their duties, including SSU commandos and traffic police personnel.
Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’SEOUL, South Korea — Decades of achievement led Yoon Suk Yeol to the pinnacle of political power in South Korea, but his legacy may now boil down to a single, baffling decision to send out troops under martial law over vague claims that one of Asia’s leading democracies was under threat. Was there any clue in Yoon’s background that this was coming? Yoon, a staunch conservative and longtime prosecutor, went from political novice to president of South Korea in 2022, ending five years of liberal rule that saw failed efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis and a slackening economy. But his time in office has been marked by near-constant friction with an opposition-controlled parliament, threats of annihilation from North Korea and a series of scandals involving him and and his wife. Observers say he has long taken criticism personally and relies on the advice of hardcore loyalists, and that he makes impulsive decisions. As he faces impeachment by parliament, no one thing explains his attempt to shut down the mechanisms of a democratic nation over his still unexplained claim that “anti-state forces” were acting under the influence of North Korea. But there are strands in Yoon’s background, and especially in the intense acrimony with the liberal opposition and his hard-line standoff with North Korea, that help illuminate what could turn out to be the defining moment of his presidency. Despite his 21⁄2 years as president, Yoon’s career has been overwhelmingly about the law, not politics. Yoon, 63, was born in Seoul to two professors, and went to prestigious Seoul National University, where he studied law. A major moment, according to Yoon, happened in 1980 when he played the role of a judge in a mock trial of then-dictator Chun Doo-hwan, who staged a military coup the previous year, and sentenced him to life imprisonment. In the aftermath, Yoon had to flee to the countryside as Chun’s military extended martial law and placed troops and armored vehicles at the university. Yoon returned to the capital and eventually began a career as a state prosecutor that would last nearly three decades, building an image as strong-minded and uncompromising. But he has also faced criticism that his personality was unsuited to high-level leadership. “President Yoon isn’t well-prepared, and he does things off the cuff,” Choi Jin, director of the Seoul-based Institute of Presidential Leadership, said. “He also tends to express his emotions too directly. The things that he likes and dislikes are easy to see, and he tends to handle things with a small group of his own people, not the majority of people. “ Yoon only joined party politics about a year before he won the presidency, abandoning the liberal Moon after an impasse over a probe of Moon’s allies. Moon’s supporters said he was trying to thwart Moon’s prosecution reforms and elevate his own political standing. The 2022 presidential race was Yoon’s first election campaign. Yoon beat his rival, liberal firebrand Lee Jae-myung, by less than 1 percentage point in South Korea’s most closely fought presidential election. Their campaign was one of the nastiest in recent memory. Yoon compared Lee’s party to “Hitler” and “Mussolini.” Lee’s allies called Yoon “a beast” and “dictator” and derided his wife’s alleged plastic surgery. Yoon’s time as president has been dominated by frustration and acrimony, much stemming from his narrow victory and his party’s failure to win control of parliament. The liberal opposition’s control of parliament will continue until he leaves office in 2027 after its resounding parliamentary election wins earlier this year. Gridlock in parliament has led to an increasingly tense political discourse. When Yoon declared the state of emergency, he said a goal was to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces” that he said were plotting rebellion, in an apparent reference to the opposition Democratic Party. During Tuesday’s martial law announcement, Yoon highlighted his rivals’ repeated attempts to impeach his top officials and their bid to curtail key parts of next year’s budget bill as major reasons for his declaration. Claims of corruption have also battered his approval ratings. Last month, Yoon denied wrongdoing in an influence-peddling scandal involving him and his wife. Spy camera footage in a separate scandal also purportedly shows the first lady, Kim Keon Hee, accepting a luxury bag as a gift from a pastor. Choi said he thinks Yoon likely planned the “clumsy martial law” edict to divert public attention away from the scandals. “Whether he will be politically dead or not, he tried to massively shake up the political world,” Choi said. “But he failed. He likely believed there was no other option.” Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!For a third day, police searched for the suspect in what they are calling a “brazen, targeted,” and “premeditated” attack on UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was gunned down early Wednesday morning outside his midtown Manhattan hotel. While there is no known motive yet, police are investigating whether anger at UnitedHealth and the insurance industry could be at play. Due to the personal nature of the attack on Thompson, a number of healthcare insurance companies are removing the names, information, and photos of their leadership from their websites, 404 Media reported . Those companies include: UnitedHealth Group, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and Aetna. Pharmacy chain CVS has also removed information about its leadership from its website. | UnitedHealthcare’s parent company UnitedHealth Group removed photos of its top executives from its website hours after the shooting, and later removed their names and biographies, according to the Associated Press . Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reportedly redirected its leadership page to a general “about us” page on its website after walking back a policy that would charge patients for anesthesia during procedures that went longer than estimated. Humana also removed its CEO page and information about its board of directors, while Aetna removed its leadership page. CVS pulled photos of its executives (Aetna has partnered with CVS Health to offer access to a nationwide network of primary care doctors, specialists, hospitals, and discounts in store). Park Nicollet Health Service also removed a photo and information about Thompson’s wife , Paulette. The AP also reported Medica, a nonprofit healthcare firm, temporarily closed its Minnesota offices for security reasons on Friday “out of an abundance of caution,” while nonprofit health insurance organization Caresource took down individual executive leadership pages . At the same time, many companies are beefing up their security. (Thompson reportedly did not have a security detail when he was shot.) “Chief security officers around the globe are looking at their executive security programs, either on their own, or by CEOs and their boards . . . making sure that they have the appropriate resources . . . to identify potential situations like this,” Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management, told ABC News . He added that security officers at dozens of Fortune 500 companies held a video call to discuss boosting protection for executives after the shooting. But critics say executives are missing the point. The incident has shed a spotlight on many Americans’ distrust and frustration with healthcare insurers and the nation’s increasingly expensive healthcare system. UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest health insurers in the U.S., covering more than 50 million people, has been heavily criticized for denying patients’ claims, delaying reimbursements, and defending their refusal to cover medical treatments and procedures deemed necessary by doctors and hospitals, particularly for the elderly . In the last few days, people have used social media to vent their anger over these and other business practices, aiming it at UnitedHealth, Thompson, and the system at large. Last year, UnitedHealth Group reported $371.6 billion in revenue and was slapped with an antitrust lawsuit to block a $3.3 billion acquisition of a rival home health and hospice service, according to National Public Radio . The application deadline for Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards is this Friday, December 6, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.