Uruguay's ex-president Mujica receiving palliative care: wife
Uruguay's leftist ex-leader Jose "Pepe" Mujica, who became a cult figure partly due to his modest lifestyle, was in a "terminal" phase of cancer and receiving palliative care, his wife said.
The 89-year-old was being made as comfortable "as possible" in the final phase of his life, Lucia Topolansky told Sarandi radio in an interview broadcast Monday.
In January, Mujica said his cancer, diagnosed in the esophagus last year, had spread and he would stop treatment.
The former guerrilla was once known as the world's "poorest president" for giving away most of his salary and driving an old Volkswagen Beetle while in office from 2010 to 2015.
He also gained an international following for his firm anti-consumerist stance.
On his watch, Uruguay passed a number of progressive laws -- legalizing abortion and gay marriage, and becoming the first country in the world to allow recreational cannabis use, in 2013.
Mujica was part of the MLN-Tupamaros rebels that waged an insurgency during the 1960s and 70s.
Though popular, many Uruguayans blamed the group for provoking the 1973 military coup that ushered in a dictatorship that lasted until 1985.
Mujica spent 12 years in prison during that time, much of it in solitary confinement.
"I have been with him for more than 40 years, and I will be until the end; that is what I promised," fellow former guerrilla Topolansky said.
On Sunday, Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi -- a protege of Mujica -- asked for privacy for the ailing ex-leader and his family.
"We must all contribute to ensuring that dignity is the key in every stage of life; we must not overwhelm him, we must leave him in peace," he appealed.
gfe/mr/mlr/st
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
02-06-2025
- Axios
East Boston family details ICE arrest of TPS recipient
Mercedes Pineda said having Temporary Protected Status and no criminal record didn't stop federal agents from detaining her husband, Jose, at work. The big picture: Pineda, who spoke at a panel organized by U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley in East Boston, said hers is far from the only family to get torn apart by the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. What's happening: Pineda's husband, a TPS recipient from El Salvador, was released after two days, but she said the family is still grappling with the aftermath. Neither of them is sleeping well. Jose's doctor warned he's one traumatic event away from a deadly stroke. Their 12-year-old daughter is suffering from anxiety attacks. (As Pineda spoke, Pressley sat behind her and comforted her daughter.) Pineda later told Axios she learned he was detained through videos that circulated, but couldn't confirm it until he managed to call hours later. They still don't know why he was held and say he has no criminal record. Protections for Salvadoran TPS recipients last until Sept. 9, 2026, per U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. What they're saying: " We are honest people. We came to this country to work, to help our families move forward," Pineda said in a Spanish-language interview. "They shouldn't be treating us like criminals, because we're not." Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which typically does not respond to inquiries about individual cases, didn't respond to a request from Axios concerning Pineda's husband's case. What's next: Pressley asked Pineda what help her family could use. In the meantime, Pineda tells Axios she's leaning on her church and on God, whom she thanks for connecting her to Centro Presente and getting Jose released.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Yahoo
Trump and Pepe the Frog: 2016 campaign turned meme political. Then it became a hate symbol
President Donald Trump posted a graphic on social media with a subtle nod to a meme that was added to the Anti-Defamation League hate symbol database during the 2016 presidential election. A May 28 Truth Social post shows a black and white picture of Trump walking through a dark street with an on-image caption: "He's on a mission from God & nothing can stop what is coming." In the background of the picture is Pepe the Frog, a popular internet meme that started as a comic in 2005 but was embraced by far-right groups when Trump was first running for president. Some racist and antisemitic uses landed it on the hate symbol list, but ADL says it depends on the context. Pepe the Frog has also become a popular meme coin, and Trump's Truth Social post was shared by a $PEPE account on X, repeating the refrain, "nothing can stop what is coming." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's recent post. Why critics are alarmed: Trump shared an article with a pink triangle symbol Pepe the Frog started as a character from a comic series, "Boy's Club" by Matt Furie in 2005, according to Know Your Meme. While the somewhat sad-looking frog did not have racist or antisemitic origins, its proliferation through the internet as a meme led to its adaptation into something of a symbol for single men who felt they were on the social outskirts, Know Your Meme editor Brad Kim told the New York Times in 2016. But Kim said it became political when Trump shared a Trump-ified version of Pepe in October 2015. "Pepe plugged into the ideology of the alt-right because it was a reaction against the people they call 'normies,'" Kim told the New York Times. "Pepe had been a symbol of the disenfranchised, social outcasts. It was Trump's natural audience." In 2016, the Anti-Defamation League added Pepe the Frog to its list of hate symbols, though the organization notes many uses of this meme are still not rooted in bigotry or hate. "The number of 'alt right' Pepe memes has grown, a tendency exacerbated by the controversial and contentious 2016 presidential election," Pepe's ADL page states. "However, because so many Pepe the Frog memes are not bigoted in nature, it is important to examine use of the meme only in context." The ADL Center on Extremism's senior director of investigative research Carla Hill pointed out the "FruitSnacks" watermark on the graphic. Hill said it is a reference to a popular Truth Social account formerly associated with QAnon, the far-right movement that pushes the conspiracy theory that Trump is waging a secret war with a satanic "deep state." "Nothing can stop what is coming," is commonly seen as a QAnon slogan, Hill said. "The mere fact of posting a Pepe meme does not mean that someone is racist or white supremacist," the ADL page on Pepe states. "However, if the meme itself is racist or antisemitic in nature, or if it appears in a context containing bigoted or offensive language or symbols, then it may have been used for hateful purposes.' In another offshoot of internet culture, Pepe the Frog is now a meme coin, a form of cryptocurrency often seen as a collector's item. "$PEPE is a meme coin with no intrinsic value or expectation of financial return," a disclaimer on the website states. "There is no formal team or roadmap. the coin is completely useless and for entertainment purposes only." Trump also has a meme coin: $TRUMP. He recently hosted a dinner for the top purchasers of the coin, who together invested a total of $148 million in the coin. The dinner stirred ethics concerns. According to CoinMarketCap, $PEPE is the No. 25 most valuable crypto token and $TRUMP is No. 41. Contributing: Mike Snider, Zac Anderson and Joey Garrison, USA TODAY Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Who is Pepe the Frog? Donald Trump's Truth Social post, explained
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Yahoo
Kroos Endorses Wirtz Amid Liverpool Transfer Links
Liverpool Move for Wirtz Endorsed by Kroos Kroos offers insight into Wirtz's future amid Anfield rumours Liverpool's pursuit of Florian Wirtz has taken a fresh twist following comments from one of Germany's most celebrated midfielders. Toni Kroos, who recently retired from professional football after a glittering career with Real Madrid and Germany, has publicly given his backing to Wirtz, should the youngster opt for a move to Anfield. Advertisement Speaking during the Icon League indoor football event, Kroos addressed the speculation surrounding Wirtz and his potential transfer: 'If he thinks that's the best next step for him and his career, then that's good,' said the 34-year-old, via 'You can technically only judge decisions like this afterwards, of course.' With Wirtz emerging as one of the most sought-after young talents in Europe, Liverpool are reportedly leading the race for his signature. However, negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen are expected to be anything but straightforward. Leverkusen firm on valuation despite Liverpool bid Wirtz, still just 21, is said to be the subject of a €100 million bid from Liverpool. Yet Bayer Leverkusen are believed to be holding out for a figure closer to €130 million. Such a valuation underlines the club's determination to hold onto their prized asset unless a substantial offer is placed on the table. Advertisement Adding a further twist to the ongoing saga are reports suggesting that Darwin Núñez could be included in a possible swap deal. If the Uruguayan forward were to head to Leverkusen, it would significantly alter the financial equation and potentially accelerate negotiations. The inclusion of Núñez would offer both clubs a fresh attacking dynamic, although such a high-profile exchange would require careful consideration from both sporting and financial perspectives. Kroos reflects on Wirtz's top-club readiness Kroos is well positioned to speak on Wirtz's career trajectory. The veteran midfielder previously spent time on loan at Leverkusen before establishing himself at Bayern Munich and later Real Madrid. His understanding of the environment Wirtz currently operates in lends credence to his remarks. Advertisement 'He is a player who can prevail at any club in the world in my opinion,' Kroos added. 'It doesn't matter if it would've been Bayern or Liverpool… he has all the tools to assert himself at any given top club.' This is high praise from a player who has operated at the highest levels of club and international football, winning multiple UEFA Champions League titles and a World Cup. Photo: IMAGO Slot era set for defining first transfer move Incoming Liverpool manager Arne Slot is expected to play a central role in shaping the club's transfer strategy this summer. The Dutchman will be keen to put his own stamp on the squad and securing a talent like Wirtz would represent a major statement of intent. Advertisement The Bayer Leverkusen sporting director has already gone on record confirming Liverpool's 'concrete interest' in the midfielder, reinforcing the seriousness of their pursuit. With pre-season on the horizon, the Reds will be eager to finalise any major additions in good time. Wirtz's technical ability, vision and creativity would make him an ideal fit for Slot's dynamic style. But his adaptability to Premier League intensity will be a decisive factor. For now, all eyes remain on Liverpool as they navigate one of the summer's most intriguing transfer narratives.
