Latest news with #People'sAction
News18
27-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Jammu And Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah Announces Memorial For Pahalgam Attack Victims
Last Updated: Omar Abdullah said that suggestions would be sought to ensure that the memorial is not only magnificent but also dignified and respectful. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday announced to built a memorial in Pahalgam's Baisaran meadows to commemorate the 26 individuals who lost their their lives in April 22's terror attack. 'We have been discussing this from day one — a memorial will be set up in Baisaran for the 26 innocent lives lost, as a lasting tribute and a reminder that they will never be forgotten," the Chief Minister said. While addressing a gathering of tour and travel operators, Abdullah emphasised the importance of reviving the declining tourism in the erstwhile state. 'In today's cabinet meeting, the Public Works Department was authorised to grant in- principle approval for this memorial," he added. He further said that suggestions would be sought to ensure that the memorial is not only magnificent but also dignified and respectful. Earlier, Abdullah convened a special cabinet meeting in Pahalgam, a symbolic gesture aimed at projecting defiance against terror and a steadfast commitment to the region's development. In his first press conference since the April 22 terror attack in Baisaran meadows, Abdullah said that tourism should be 'conflict-neutral" and not serve as a gauge for normalcy. The choice of Pahalgam for holding a special cabinet meeting aims to show solidarity with the residents of the tourist town, which has experienced a sharp decline in tourist footfall since the devastating April 22 terror attack. Abdullah also focused on the complex governance structure in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the context of security and tourism revival and said that 'there is a strange system in JK as tourism is my responsibility, but security is not my responsibility. Earlier, an advocacy group and non governmental organisation (NGO), People's Action, had written to the Chief Minister to consider setting up a memorial to honour the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. In a statement, the group had said, 'People's Action has reminded CM Abdullah of a proposal it submitted on May 2, seeking to commemorate the victims of the Pahalgam massacre at Baisaran Valley." In the letter, the NGO had emphasised the need for India to acknowledge the loss of innocent lives and to create a memorial that serves as a reminder of the region's long-standing struggles with terrorism and religious persecution. 'We are hopeful that the Chief Minister will lead this effort to bring closure to a tragic incident that deeply impacted many lives," Sanjay Kaul, founder of People's Action had said as quoted by news agency PTI. Pahalgam Terror Attack In one of the biggest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed responsibility for the attack, although it later backtracked after massive global outrage. After the attack, the diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan were downgraded with New Delhi announcing several punitive measures, including suspension of Indus Water Treaty, cutting Islamabad Mission strength, closing its airspace for Pakistani airlines and expulsion of its military attaches. (With inputs from bureau, agencies) First Published: May 27, 2025, 21:26 IST
The Guardian
03-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Singapore ruling party wins election in landslide
Singapore's ruling party has notched a resounding win in general elections, official results showed early Sunday, giving prime minister Lawrence Wong the clear mandate he sought from voters. Wong's long-ruling People's Action party crossed the threshold of 49 seats to form a majority government in the wealthy city-state's 97-seat unicameral legislature, with sample counts earlier showing the PAP winning all but 10 seats. 'We are grateful once again for your strong mandate, and we will honour it,' a broadly smiling Wong said shortly after winning his ward, thanking supporters gathered at Yio Chu Kang stadium. Wong was facing his first major test against a rejuvenated opposition and had urged voters to offer him a strong show of support as he navigates the trade-oriented nation through global economic uncertainties brought by US tariffs. The PAP, which has steered the Southeast Asian country to prosperity while being criticised for suppressing dissent, was always expected to easily retain a clear majority in the legislature. However, its dominance has been increasingly challenged by a more vocal electorate over the years. Popular after leading Singapore's Covid task force, Wong took over last year from his predecessor Lee Hsien Loong, the son of founding premier Lee Kuan Yew who ruled the island state after its bitter breakup with Malaysia in 1965. Wong had warned Singapore would be hit hard if US President Donald Trump went ahead with the tariffs he announced and then paused for most countries, and that it needed to stay open and competitive to counter their effects. He has also said the ructions caused could require a major restructuring of Singapore's economy. 'The intense campaigning by PM Lawrence Wong and former PM Lee Hsien Loong in the hot seats must have helped a lot and the fear of Trump's tariffs must have worried voters as well,' political observer and veteran former editor PN Balji told AFP. The overwhelming PAP majority has become a norm in Singapore's political landscape. But in the runup to the latest polls, the PAP had faced a series of controversies. Lee Hsien Loong is locked in a bitter feud with his brother Lee Hsien Yang, who vehemently supports the opposition and who has sought political asylum in Britain. The long-running family row centres on allegations made by Lee Hsien Yang that his brother is seeking to block the demolition of a family bungalow to capitalise on Lee Kuan Yew's legacy - something he has denied. Last year, former transport minister S Iswaran was thrown in jail for graft, and in 2023 the parliament speaker and a lawmaker resigned over an 'inappropriate' affair. At the same time, younger voters showed themselves to be increasingly receptive to alternative political voices. One voter told AFP she had been impressed by 'refreshing and exciting' new candidates from across the political spectrum. 'Whether or not they get elected, I hope we see and hear more of them, and get to know them better,' said 40-year-old Shi'ai Liang. In 2020, the country's largest opposition group, the Workers' party (WP), made historic gains, winning 10 of the 93 seats at stake – a significant jump from its previously held four seats. The WP – which has become politically slicker – had been hoping to build on that momentum with a slate of charismatic candidates, including a top lawyer. The party pulled in massive crowds at its rallies during the campaign, just like in previous elections, but those big numbers have seldom translated into electoral wins in the past. Campaigning on cost of living issues, WP candidates said more opposition MPs were needed to deprive the PAP of a political 'blank cheque' to do whatever it wants. The PAP, however, pointed to the billions of Singapore dollars it has spent in helping citizens cope with rising costs, including via cash handouts and grocery vouchers.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Advocates, central Illinois lawmakers call for more protections for Mahomet Aquifer
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — A proposal to exempt the Mahomet Aquifer from carbon sequestration projects is picking up steam in the Capitol. 'We play with the hand we're dealt with, and this is what we're doing now,' Annette McMichael, a Hopedale resident and boardmember for Illinois' People's Action said. Illinois Peoples Action led a group of advocates in the Capitol Wednesday. They were trying to drum up support for the bill sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans. 'What we're looking for right now is more co-sponsors and seeing if we can get this moved along quickly,' McMichael said. 'It's really more of an amendment to the current bill to make sure that we protect our only water source in central Illinois.' There are currently several iterations of the same bill, but they all seek to accomplish the same goal. Representative Carol Ammons recently added over 20 cosponsors to her version — HB 3614. 'Our risk level is zero on this bill, and that's why we are working on this session to make sure we can be clear about that and protect the aquifer,' Illinois lawmakers passed first of it's kind regulations on CO2 sequestration projects last Spring, and they put a pause on carbon dioxide pipelines for the time being while they wait for more federal regulations to kick in. That law did not, however, include an exemption for the sole source aquifer that provides water to most of the western part of the state. During the debate over the initial regulations, central Illinois lawmakers shared concerns about the aquifer, but the bill still passed. Governor JB Pritzker later signed the law while standing on top of what was then touted as a premiere use of the technology at the ADM facility in Decatur. It was only several months later that an EPA report found that the ADM carbon sequestration site was leaking. That news led to a quick push from area lawmakers to protect the aquifer. There are no current proposals to build a sequestration site under the aquifer, but that does not mean they are far off. Illinois' unique geological formations make it a prime location for storing the excess carbon emissions from companies, factories and anybody else looking for a short cut to meeting emissions standards. There have been a number of projects proposed across central Illinois over the past couple of years, but none — barring one project in Ford County — have gotten any footing due to massive public pushback. There is still a long way to go for these bills to actually become law. The sponsors of the bill are running up against strong private sector interests in these projects, and there is an incentive for labor if the projects move forward. An attempt to pass the bill in the November veto session failed when Senate President Don Harmon said it was a good starting point for continuing conversations, but ultimately did not call it for a vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
