V.S. Achuthanandan, Kerala's former CM, dies at 101
A founding member of the CPI(M) party, he played a key role in shaping Kerala's political and social landscape over several decades.
The party paid tribute, calling him "a voice of the voiceless and a lifelong champion of the working class."
Achuthanandan's political career was marked by grassroots activism, trade union leadership, and a reputation for integrity and simplicity.
He had withdrawn from public life in 2019 following a stroke and spent his final years under care at his son's residence.
Kerala has declared three days of state mourning, with flags flying at half-mast and public institutions closed in tribute to the late leader.
A glorious era of revolutionary will and persistence comes to an end with the passing of our beloved Comrade V. S. Achuthanandan. His life - an illustrious saga of struggles like Punnapra-Vayalar, leadership of toiling agricultural workers, unwavering commitment as an organiser,… pic.twitter.com/s2cFA3oc4f
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) July 21, 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
4 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Victim's brother denies pardon for Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, questions legitimacy of negotiations
Gulf Today Report Confusion surrounds the status of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya's death sentence in Yemen, as conflicting reports have surfaced regarding its cancellation. News agency ANI, citing reliable sources, reported on Tuesday that her death sentence has not been overturned, contradicting earlier claims made by other parties. 'Information being circulated by certain individuals regarding the Nimisha Priya case is inaccurate,' the sources told ANI. Despite recent reports hinting at a potential breakthrough in the case of Nimisha Priya, the victim's family has publicly denied any agreement or pardon. Abdul Fattah Mahdi, brother of the murdered Yemeni national Talal Mahdi, issued a strong rebuttal on Facebook, rejecting claims that he had forgiven Priya. He also raised concerns over the credibility of the ongoing negotiations surrounding the case. Mahdi argued that, under Islamic law, granting clemency in murder cases is not permissible. He also criticised the mediators involved in the talks, alleging that they failed to consult or coordinate with Talal's immediate family. Earlier, the office of Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar issued a statement claiming that a high-level meeting in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, had resulted in the full cancellation of the death sentence, which had previously been suspended. 'The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was earlier put on hold, has now been completely revoked,' the Grand Mufti's office had said. As of now, there is no official confirmation from Yemeni authorities regarding the reported decision. Priya's family, including her 13-year-old daughter Mishel and her husband Thomas, had travelled to Yemen in support of her case. They were accompanied by Indian Christian evangelist Dr. KA Paul, who has been advocating for her release. Together, they made an appeal to the Houthi authorities for leniency. In an emotional video shared by PTI, Mishel is seen expressing her love for her mother in both Malayalam and English, saying, 'I love you, mamma.' The audio, however, is not clearly audible. Last week, India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that it is closely monitoring the case and providing full support to Priya and her family. The ministry also stated that it is coordinating with 'friendly governments' to help resolve the matter diplomatically. Nimisha Priya had been sentenced to death in Yemen for the murder of a Yemeni national. Her case has drawn significant attention in India and abroad, with calls for diplomatic intervention and clemency on humanitarian grounds.
Khaleej Times
9 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
India PM Narendra Modi denies third party brokered peace with Pakistan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 29 denied that any world leader pushed India to stop fighting Pakistan during their recent conflict, after repeated claims by US President Donald Trump that he had brokered peace. The South Asian rivals fought an intense four-day conflict in May that left more than 70 people dead on both sides before Trump announced a ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbours. "No world leader asked us to stop the operation," Modi told parliament during a debate on "Operation Sindoor", the military campaign launched against Pakistan in May. Modi did not name Trump in his speech. The Indian prime minister also claimed that it was Pakistan that pleaded with India to stop fighting after feeling the "heat of our attacks". The conflict was sparked by an April attack on tourists by gunmen in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 men dead, mostly Hindus. India accused Pakistan of backing the attackers, a charge Islamabad denied. Trump has claimed numerous times that he brokered peace between the rivals, including most recently on July 28. "If I weren't around, you'd have, right now, six major wars going on. India would be fighting with Pakistan," Trump said during his visit to Scotland. Modi's assertion came after Rahul Gandhi from the opposition Congress party challenged the premier to say "inside the parliament that Donald Trump is lying". Earlier Tuesday, home minister Amit Shah told lawmakers that three Pakistani gunmen involved in the attack in Indian-administered Kashmir were killed during a military operation on Monday. Shah told parliament that all three were Pakistani nationals and identified two of them as members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan. Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, and the neighbours — who both claim the region in full — have fought two wars and several conflicts over its control. The fighting in May brought the rivals close to another war, but Trump announced a ceasefire between them before the two countries did. Soon, opposition parties in India started raising questions about third-party mediation between the foes, a claim New Delhi has always denied.
Zawya
13 hours ago
- Zawya
H.E. Bin Touq holds meetings with Andhra Pradesh CM and Ministers of Commerce, IT, and Food Processing
Meetings take place on the sidelines of Investopia Global Talks in Andhra Pradesh Abu Dhabi: H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of Investopia, held four bilateral meetings with H.E. N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh; H.E. T. G. Bharath, Minister of Industries, Commerce, and Food Processing; H.E. Nara Lokesh, Minister of Information Technology; and H.E. R. Mukundan, President‑designate of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for 2025-2026 term and CEO of Tata Chemicals Limited. The meetings aimed to enhance collaboration across priority areas such as the new economy, agriculture, food processing, fintech, the circular and green economy, innovation, entrepreneurship, and SMEs. The discussions took place on the sidelines of the Investopia Global Talks held recently in Andhra Pradesh, bringing together over 200 business leaders, investors, innovators, officials, and decision-makers from both the UAE and India. H.E. Bin Touq highlighted that the UAE and India share a comprehensive and advanced strategic partnership, aligning with the two leaderships' shared vision for sustainable economic development. H.E. emphasised that economic collaboration between the two nations continues to grow, adding further momentum to their exceptional partnership. The Minister of Economy and Tourism said: 'India is a key economic and investment partner for the UAE. We look forward to fostering fruitful cooperation and forging new partnerships with our counterparts in the Indian government, while exploring promising opportunities for the business communities in both countries across sectors of mutual interest. This will help drive sustainable growth and shared prosperity in both nations.' H.E. further added, 'India's Andhra Pradesh stands out for its strategic geographic location that connects local and global markets, its competitive strengths in agriculture and exports, and the presence of leading UAE companies across key sectors such as supply chains, food, industry, and logistics - including DP World, Sharaf, Tabreed, and Lulu. This meeting marks a significant step towards strengthening collaboration and expanding opportunities to advance public-private economic partnerships between the two nations, reinforcing integration across vital sectors that drive the growth and sustainability of both the UAE and Indian economies.' National priorities for transitioning to sustainable economic models H.E. Bin Touq's meeting with H.E. N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, discussed national development policies and priorities for transitioning to sustainable and adaptable economic models. The meeting also explored the exchange of expertise in modern economic legislation aimed at encouraging UAE and Indian business communities to invest in future economic sectors and expand into international markets, leveraging their unique strengths. Both sides underscored the significance of Andhra Pradesh hosting the Investopia Global Talks, offering a valuable platform for highlighting promising investment and economic opportunities, facilitating connectivity and communication between UAE and Indian investors, and creating new pathways for collaboration across vital sectors including technology, renewable energy, food, agriculture, and digital economies. UAE's efforts in developing economic food cluster During his meeting with H.E. T. G. Bharath, Minister for Industries, Commerce and Food Processing, H.E. bin Touq highlighted the UAE's efforts to develop a food cluster combining agricultural production, food industries, and latest agricultural technology within a unified ecosystem based on collaboration and integration. These efforts enhance the national economy's competitiveness and empower private sector companies in food sector and related activities. Strengthening cooperation on digital economy In a sperate meeting, H.E. Abdulla bin Touq and H.E. Nara Lokesh, Minister for Information Technology, explored the importance of collaborative efforts in digital economy and adopting modern technologies as key enablers of growth in vital economic sectors. Both sides emphasized that digital transformation directly contributes to building more efficient business environments and enhances innovation, competitiveness, and productivity. The Minister of Economy and Tourism also met with H.E. R. Mukundan, President‑designate of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for the 2025-2026 term, to explore avenues for enhancing economic and investment collaboration between the UAE and India. The meeting focused on strengthening public-private partnerships across innovation, industry, technology, entrepreneurship, while also discussing the means to enhance the food sector and growth of SMEs. The meeting highlighted the importance of continued dialogue between governmental entities and business communities in enhancing the food sector and enabling SMEs to play a stronger role in driving economic growth and achieving sustainable development.
