Montevideo, May 14 (IANS) Former Uruguayan President Jose “Pepe” Mujica, who was an icon and known as the “world’s poorest President” died at the age of 89 in Montevideo, President Yamandu Orsi confirmed.Mujica announced in January that his esophageal cancer, first diagnosed in April 2024, had spread to his liver. He said he would not pursue further treatment.”With deep sorrow we announce the passing of our comrade Pepe Mujica – President, activist, leader, and guide. We’ll miss you dearly, old friend. Thank you for everything you gave us and for your deep love for your people,” Orsi wrote on social media on Tuesday.In an interview with local weekly Busqueda, Mujica had said, “This is the end of the road for me,” adding, “my cycle is over.” He asked to be left in peace and expressed his wish to be buried at his farm on the outskirts of Montevideo, Xinhua news agency reported.Mujica, widely known as the “world’s poorest President” for donating most of his salary to charitable causes during his 2010–2015 term, had been diagnosed with advanced cancer.In May 2024, doctors discovered cancer of the esophagus, which then spread to his liver. His wife, former senator and Vice President Lucía Topolansky, confirmed this week that he was under palliative care.A symbol of progressive politics in Latin America, Mujica helped transform Uruguay through landmark reforms, including the legalisation of abortion, same-sex marriage, and recreational cannabis. Even after his presidency, he continued to campaign for Leftist causes until his health declined.Mujica’s political journey began in the 1960s when he co-founded the Tupamaros, a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla group. Initially known for robbing the rich to aid the poor, the movement later escalated to kidnappings, bombings, and assassinations. Mujica lived a life marked by daring exploits, surviving multiple gunshot wounds and participating in a dramatic mass prison escape.After the Tupamaros collapsed in 1972, he was recaptured and spent the entirety of Uruguay’s military dictatorship from 1973 to 1985 in prison. During his incarceration, Mujica endured torture and long periods of solitary confinement.Upon his release, he turned to democratic politics, founding the Movement of Popular Participation (MPP) in 1989, which became the largest faction within the Broad Front, Uruguay’s Left-wing coalition.He was elected to parliament in 1995 and became a senator in 2000. In 2005, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture in the country’s first leftist government. In 2010, he was elected President and served a single five-year term, in accordance with Uruguay’s constitutional limits.Mujica, who had no children, is survived by his wife and lifelong political partner, Lucía Topolansky.–IANSint/jk/rad

Seoul, May 14 (IANS) South Korean Democratic Party (DP) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung called on the People Power Party (PPP) on Wednesday to immediately expel former President Yoon Suk Yeol from the party, criticising him as a “military coup leader.”Lee’s call came a day after the PPP’s candidate Kim Moon-soo said he was not considering expelling Yoon who was ousted over his short-lived martial law imposition in December and now faces criminal charges of leading an insurrection.”The People Power Party must immediately expel military coup leader Yoon Suk Yeol now,” Lee said during a campaign rally in Busan, about 320 kilometres southeast of Seoul.”If the People Power Party respects the basic liberal democratic order from the Constitution, it must apologise a hundredfold over the military coup.”Is the People Power Party a conservative party as it is called? Is it a democratic party?” Lee questioned. “That party has to now choose between the two choices of changing or being kicked out.”Meanwhile, Lee told reporters that he expected the election to be determined by a slim margin despite rosy forecasts for the DP candidate who has been leading in the polls by a wide margin, Yonhap news agency reported.”Our goal is a certain victory not an overwhelming victory,” he said.Yoon, who dramatically rose from a top prosecutor to the presidency in about three years, became the nation’s second President to be formally removed from office, with his surprise martial law bid rattling the nation for months and deepening political polarisation.Before taking the nation’s highest office, Yoon began his career as a prosecutor in 1994, rising through the ranks to lead an investigation team into Park’s corruption scandal that ultimately led to her ouster and subsequent imprisonment.In 2019, he was appointed as the nation’s top prosecutor under then South Korean President Moon Jae-in but clashed with the administration as he oversaw investigations into family members of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.Amid mounting pressure from the Moon administration, Yoon stepped down from his post in 2021, only to enter politics shortly after and win the presidential election in 2022 as the candidate for the conservative People Power Party.Yoon’s term was riddled with conflict with an uncooperative National Assembly dominated by the main Opposition Democratic Party (DP). Yoon exercised his presidential veto power against 25 Bills passed by the National Assembly.Tensions with the DP appeared to reach an extreme in early December as the main Opposition introduced motions to impeach the country’s top auditor and a senior prosecutor, with Yoon declaring martial law on December 3, which ultimately led to his downfall.–IANSint/jk/rad

Seoul, May 14 (IANS) Former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee declined to appear…

Boston, May 14 (IANS) An Indian-origin student from the US died after falling from a balcony in the Bahamas, just a few days before graduating. Gaurav Jaisingh, a student of Bentley University, Massachusetts, was on an annual senior class trip.Reports suggested that Jaisingh, a native of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, was a member of the Delta Sigma Pi fraternity and the South Asian Students Association of the University.Bentley University took to social media on Wednesday, grieving the tragic loss of the student.”It’s been a difficult few days, and our community is feeling the emotional toll of the tragic loss of Gaurav Jaisingh ’25. Our hearts go out to Gaurav’s family and friends. We plan to honour Gaurav at the undergraduate commencement ceremony,” the university said in a post on X.The Royal Bahamas Police Force earlier confirmed the incident, stating that Jaisingh fell from an upper-level balcony while inside his hotel room with other roommates.”On Sunday, the police launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of an adult male of the United States on Paradise Island. According to initial reports, sometime around 10:00 p.m., the victim was inside his hotel room with other roommates when it is reported that he accidentally fell from an upper-level balcony. He was later found unresponsive on a lower floor,” said the police in a press releaseThe police stated that emergency medical services responded and transported the student to the hospital; however, he succumbed while enroute, and investigations are ongoing into this incident.”We share our deepest condolences with Gaurav’s family, friends and loved ones. While local authorities are investigating, it appears Gaurav accidentally fell from a balcony. We will share more information when available while respecting his family’s privacy,” Bentley University said in a statement to the American television network, ABC News.”This is an enormous tragedy for our community. Bentley is providing resources for those who are impacted and encourages anyone who needs support to reach out to the university’s counselling centre,” it added.–IANSint/scor/sd/

Moscow, May 14 (IANS) The Kremlin has rejected the ruling of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council, which placed the responsibility for the 2014 Malaysia Airlines crash on Russia.The UN body, ICAO, recently alleged that Russia was responsible for the July 17, 2014, downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine that killed all 298 people on board.”Russia will not recognise the Council’s ruling. It is illegitimate and violates the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and its own rule of procedure. Unlike the biased majority on the Council, Russia remains committed to UN Security Council resolution 2166 (2014) and the cause of identifying the real causes of the air crash,” the country’s foreign ministry said.The ministry denied any involvement of Russia in the Malaysia Airlines crash.”Last year, on June 17, 2024, Russia halted its participation in this investigation because it was impossible to ensure the unbiasedness of the probe amid numerous procedural violations by the ICAO Council and Secretariat. Moscow’s principles position, however, remains unchanged — Russia has nothing to do with the MH17 crash and all allegations otherwise by Australia and the Netherlands are in opposition to the facts,” it said.”Prior to this, Russia presented to the Council convincing factual and legal evidence of its noninvolvement in the crash and shared this data with all member countries of the Council. It was Kyiv that refused to close the airspace over the combat operations zone and used civilian passenger aircraft, such as MH17, as a shield for its bombers,” the ministry asserted.Earlier on Tuesday, addressing a press briefing, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia sees the findings of an investigation into the MH17 crash as biased and does not accept them.”I am not going to comment on this. Our position is well known. Russia was not among the parties that took part in investigating the accident. This is why we don’t accept any of the prejudiced conclusions,” the Russian presidential spokesman noted.Meanwhile, the Russian foreign ministry stressed that Moscow had several times suggested that the Council conduct a thorough and independent international investigation of the MH17 crash in line with UNSC resolution.”But being guided by political motives and in violation of the established procedure, the Council refused to conduct such an investigation and instead took for granted Australia’s and the Netherlands’ allegations and the findings of the joint investigative team, which includes Australia, the Netherlands, and Ukraine, or countries that are directly interested in demonising Russia,” the ministry noted.–IANSint/scor/sd/

Quetta, May 14 (IANS) Pakistan’s Kashish Chaudhary has created history by becoming the first Hindu woman appointed as an Assistant Commissioner of Balochistan. Her remarkable achievement after successfully passing the highly competitive Balochistan Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination at a notably young age is celebrated as a powerful symbol of inclusion, diversity, and meritocracy in the province.She belongs to a remote town of Noshki in the district of Chagai in Balochistan.Recognising her accomplishment, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti met Kashish along with her father, Girdhari Lal.During the meeting matters of women’s representation, minority community empowerment, and the overall development of Balochistan were discussed, local media reported.CM lauded her achievement and called her “a symbol of pride for not just Balochistan, but the entire nation.””Kashish has proven that the daughters of Balochistan are second to none. Her success sends a strong message that talent and perseverance can emerge from even the most remote corners of our province,” he said.In her remarks, Chaudhary emphasised her desire to advocate for youth, women, and marginalised communities as she expressed her commitment in serving the people of Balochistan.”I’m grateful to the Government of Balochistan for placing its trust in a young woman from a minority background. My journey is just beginning, and I intend to be a strong voice for those who are often unheard. I aim to become the voice of youth, women, and minority communities,” she stated.”Where you come from doesn’t define how far you can go. It’s your dedication and commitment that matter,” she said, calling on young girls across remote areas of Pakistan to pursue their dreams without any fear or hesitation.Despite the persistent problem of young Hindu girls being abducted and converted by Muslims, the Hindu community, with continuous struggle, tries to counter such menaces.Hindus make up the largest minority community in Pakistan. Official estimates indicate that 7.5 million Hindus are living in the country. However, the community claims that the number exceeds 9 million.Atrocities in Balochistan, however, affect both Hindus and Muslims equally. Numerous Baloch activists have accused the Pakistan government of implementing a “hard-state” approach in Balochistan, characterised by widespread enforced disappearances, custodial torture, and extrajudicial killings.Activists highlight that the ongoing campaign of fear and repression tries to silence dissent and punish families seeking justice.As the federal government continues with its brutality on the people in Balochistan, people from the province living across the world are currently fighting for their independence from Pakistan.–IANSint/scor/sd/

Ottawa, May 14 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar extended best wishes to his Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, on being sworn in as the Foreign Minister.”Congratulate Anita Anand on your appointment as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs,” he posted on X.Indian-origin Canadian politician Anita Ananda has been sworn in as the country’s Foreign Minister after a major Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Mark Carney, focussing on “mandate for change.”Taking to X, Anand posted, “I am honoured to be named Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. I look forward to working with Prime Minister Mark Carney and our team to build a safer, fairer world and deliver for Canadians.”One of Anand’s missions will be to pilot the reset of the almost ruptured ties with India that Carney signalled, while managing the delicate relations with President Donald Trump’s America.Announcing the new Cabinet of 28 ministers, Carney instructed them to “bring new ideas, a clear focus and decisive actions to their work.”He also appointed Maninder Sidhu as the international trade minister, and two others of Indian descent as secretaries of state, the equivalent of ministers of state.Anand, who was the transport minister and had earlier held the Defence portfolio, said in January that she was leaving politics and returning to academia.However, Carney persuaded her to return to the Cabinet and take the foreign affairs portfolio after she was re-elected in last month’s election.Carney, who inherited former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Cabinet, now has a chance to put his mark after having led the Liberal Party to victory, beating the odds in last month’s election.He cut the number of ministers from 39 in Trudeau’s Cabinet to 28, and three politicians of Indian origin in the last Cabinet do not find a place now.Anand replaces Melanie Joly, who has been moved to the transport and internal trade ministry that she had held.Joly ratcheted up the tensions with India, expelling six Indian diplomats last year, alleging that they were “persons of interest” in the assassination of Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.India has denied any involvement in the murky case where there were signs of gang warfare, and it expelled Canadian diplomats in retaliation.Carney, who has called relations with India “incredibly important,” said of the ties with India on the eve of the elections that “there is a path forward to address those with mutual respect and to build out.”The relations spiralled under Trudeau, who depended on the New Democratic Party led by Jagmeet Singh, an alleged Khalistan sympathiser, to stay in power.The new Cabinet has fewer Canadians of Indian descent.Harjit Singh Sajjan, who was a former Defence minister and held the Emergency preparedness portfolio in the last Cabinet, did not seek re-election to the House of Commons and left.Ruby Sahota, who was the minister of democratic institutions, has been downgraded to a secretary of state and put in charge of combating crime.Randeep Sarai is another of the ten secretaries of state and will deal with international development.From the last Cabinet, Arif Virani, who was the justice minister and attorney-general, and Kamal Khera, who held the diversity and inclusion of persons with disabilities portfolio, have been dropped by Carney.–IANSint/sd/rad

Ottawa, May 14 (IANS) Canadian businessman Maninder Sidhu, who was a parliamentary secretary, has been appointed as International Trade Minister.Sidhu, 41, who was sworn in as a minister on Tuesday, is an entrepreneur who runs his own international trade specialist business.He says in his LinkedIn page that he “worked with businesses across Canada to provide strategic advice with a focus on trade, tariffs and growth opportunities”.Elected to parliament in 2019, he did a short stint as the parliamentary secretary to the Foreign Minister.Sidhu next parlayed his business experience to become the parliamentary secretary to the International Trade Minister and has now jumped to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet, assuming that portfolio.He said in an X post that Carney has placed his confidence in him “to diversify trade, support Canadian businesses in reaching new global markets, and help create good-paying jobs across Canada”.Before his appointment, he said on Facebook about his future mission, “Canada is a trading nation — and we must strengthen and expand the infrastructure that connects us to global markets”.Sidhu and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand are two Canadians of Indian descent with international-focused portfolios.Carney has appointed Anita Ananda to the powerful post of Foreign Minister in his new cabinet charged with fulfilling the “mandate for change”.One of Anand’s missions will be to pilot the reset of the almost ruptured ties with India that Carney signalled, while managing the delicate relations with President Donald Trump’s America.Announcing the new cabinet of 28 ministers, he instructed them to “bring new ideas, a clear focus and decisive actions to their work”.Anand, who was the transport minister and had earlier held the defence portfolio, said in January that she was leaving politics and returning to academia.But Carney persuaded her to return to the cabinet and take the foreign affairs portfolio after she was re-elected in last month’s election.–IANSal/rs

Seoul, May 14 (IANS) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has supervised combined tactical drills of special operations, stressing that the most “crucial” task for the North’s armed forces is to make full preparations for war, state media reported Wednesday.The combined tactical drills of special operations and tank subunits’ joint fire strike demonstration took place the previous day, Yonhap news agency reported quoting the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).”Saying that our revolutionary armed forces are now in charge of not a few fronts, but the most important among them is the anti-imperialist class front and making full preparations for war is the most crucial task,” Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.He also said the combat drills will help “turn the whole army into an elite ranks.”Kim appears to have highlighted the concept of the anti-imperialist class front to justify the North’s deployment of troops to Russia to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine.Photos carried by state media showed North Korean troops in camouflage suits operating drones. South Korea’s spy agency earlier said it detected signs of North Korean troops deployed to Russia learning drone operations and tactics from Moscow.Last month, North Korea acknowledged for the first time that it has sent troops to Russia to fight against Ukrainian forces. During a visit to the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang last week, Kim said the North’s involvement in the war was “justifiable,” calling it an exercise of sovereign rights under a mutual defense treaty with Moscow.–IANSint/rs

Ankara, May 14 (IANS) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his support for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara, according to the Turkish presidency.

Erdogan on Tuesday said that Turkey is stepping up its diplomatic efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace, noting that he has spoken with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said a statement issued by the presidency.Erdogan emphasised that Turkey maintains its neutral stance in the conflict and urged that the opportunity for peace should not be missed, Xinhua news agency reported.On Turkey-NATO relations, Erdogan said that Turkey places great importance on NATO and will once again assume command of the NATO Kosovo Force. He also called for greater cooperation among NATO allies in the fight against terrorism.Rutte, for his part, noted that his meeting with Erdogan comes as preparations are underway for next month’s NATO summit.”Turkey is a staunch and capable ally. We also discussed Ukraine, where there is a real window of opportunity for progress towards peace,” he wrote in a post on social media platform X.Earlier Erdogan emphasised that a comprehensive ceasefire is essential to create the proper environment for initiating talks and urged all parties to seize the current window of opportunity for a diplomatic dialogue aimed at ending the conflict.He expressed his willingness to host the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Turkey on the occasion of peace negotiations.–IANSint/rs