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BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
VS Achuthanandan: Thousands pay tribute to veteran Indian communist leader
Thousands are paying their respects to veteran Indian communist leader VS Achuthanandan whose funeral will be held on as he was popularly known, died on Monday at the age of 101. He was a founding member of India's largest communist party and a former chief minister of the southern state of of thousands of people have thronged the streets to pay tribute to the politician, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Kerala's political to drop out of school as a child, Achuthanandan overcame grinding poverty and torture in police custody to become one of the state's most beloved leaders. He was being treated at a hospital in Thiruvananathapuram after suffering a cardiac arrest last month. His funeral will be held near his hometown in Alappuzha district with full state honours. "Fighting for the rights of the oppressed and the exploited was the guiding principle of his life," MA Baby, general secretary of Achuthanandan's party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M), wrote in tribute. He described the leader as "the epitome of struggle".Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, also from the CPI(M), called Achuthanandan a "limitless repository of inspiration and lessons".Apart from being Kerala's chief minister, Achuthanandan was the state's leader of opposition three times and a member of the CPI(M)'s Politburo for 23 popularity among Indian communists rivals only that of Jyoti Basu, the long-serving West Bengal chief minister and CPI(M) co-founder. But unlike the London-educated Basu, Achuthanandan came from humble roots and didn't finish school. While Basu shaped his legacy in power, Achuthanandan did so from the streets, championing people's issues as an opposition leader. Achuthanandan started working young after losing his mother at four and father at 11. As a teen in a coir factory, he joined the undivided Communist Party at 17 and began organising agricultural workers in Travancore in then British-ruled Antony, a former Kerala chief minister from the Congress party, said that as a school student in the 1960s, he would wait beside paddy fields to listen to Achuthanandan's speeches."Achuthanandan's life and struggles and the torture and beatings he endured in the vanguard of the communist agitations for bonded agriculture workers in Kuttanad are unequalled and historical," he was quoted as saying by The Hindu led a 1946 revolt against the state authorities, in which hundreds of communists were reportedly killed. He went underground, was later arrested, tortured in custody, and spent five years in jail. His work spanned labour rights, land rights, education, women's right, anti-corruption measures and environmental protection. A staunch communist, Achuthanandan wasn't afraid to defy his party - most notably when he met the widow of TP Chandrasekharan, murdered in 2012 by a gang that included former CPI(M) colleagues after he broke away to form his own public outcry forced the CPI(M) to reverse its attempts to sideline him in 2006 and 2011, Achuthanandan served as Kerala's chief minister (2006–2011) before retiring from public life following a 2019 stroke and living with his son in BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Minneapolis Democrats endorse Somali-American socialist Omar Fateh for mayor just weeks after NYC branch chose '100% communist'
A Somali-American democratic socialist has clinched the Minneapolis mayoral endorsement just weeks after a '100% communist' was elected in New York City. Omar Fateh, a 35-year-old Minnesota state senator, won the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's endorsement for Minneapolis mayor on Saturday - an upset victory over two-term incumbent Jacob Frey that few saw coming, as reported by Axios. The win comes less than a month after 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani defeated New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary - a victory that prompted Donald Trump to brand him a '100 percent Communist lunatic.' 'I am incredibly honored to be the DFL endorsed candidate for Minneapolis Mayor,' Fateh wrote to X following the endorsement. 'This endorsement is a message that Minneapolis residents are done with broken promises, vetoes, and politics as usual. It's a mandate to build a city that works for all of us.' More than 1,000 party activists packed the Target Center on Saturday afternoon, where around 5pm, delegates cast their first mayoral endorsement votes via smartphone - launching a nearly two-hour vote tallying process by party officials. The suspense was palpable as attendees wondered if Frey - who led the city through the turbulent 2020 Black Lives Matter protests - would succeed in blocking the first Somali-American Muslim to serve in the state's senate. Mamdani's endorsement energized left-wing challengers, who celebrated the possibility of unseating Frey at the upcoming DFL convention - while others looked on with doubt and concern over the 'progressive uprising' in America's biggest cities. The potential shift in the nation's political landscape was on full display at this weekend's convention. Frey's supporters began abandoning the arena at about 9pm in protest, just as the results came in - Fateh had secured the endorsement. Not only did Fateh claim a seat at the mayoral table, but he also made history -becoming the Minneapolis DFL's first endorsement in a contested mayor's race since at least 1997, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune. Fateh captured 43.8 percent of the roughly 577 delegate votes, while Frey trailed with 31.5 percent, as reported by Axios. The socialist candidate ultimately secured over 60 percent of delegate votes at the convention, despite vocal complaints from the Frey campaign over the fairness of the process. Chaos erupted as Frey's campaign officials challenged the results, claiming the party's online delegate voting system had allegedly malfunctioned - pointing to a suspiciously low number of recorded votes. 'This election should be decided by the entire city rather than the small group of people who became delegates, particularly in light of the extremely flawed and irregular conduct of this convention,' Frey campaign manager Sam Schulenberg said in a statement, according to the outlet. 'Voters will now have a clear choice between the records and leadership of Sen. Fateh and Mayor Frey. We look forward to taking our vision to the voters in November, he added. Fateh has drawn increased attention following Mamdani's stunning - and surprising - victory over Cuomo in Manhattan's Democratic mayoral primary. Some have even dubbed him the 'Mamdani of Minneapolis,' according to the Star Tribune. The parallels are hard to miss: both Fateh and Mamdani are in their 30s, Muslim, democratic socialists and state lawmakers focused on making their cities more affordable and equitable. However, their rise in the political spotlight hasn't come without backlash - from both online critics and prominent, well-known faces. Former New York Giants player Carter Coughlin launched a savage attack on Fateh following his endorsement on Sunday, claiming that his policies of rent control and raising minimum wage would set Minneapolis back years. He also debated Fateh's credibility to become mayor with some of his followers. 'In a city that has endured unimaginable destruction and racial tension, these policies would set Minneapolis back another 10 steps,' Coughlin wrote. 'MPLS (Minneapolis) needs rebuilding, and this will do the opposite. Pray for wisdom.' Nevertheless, Fateh took to the arena floor just after 10pm to claim victory, declaring, 'Today, we witnessed a rejection of politics as usual,' as reported by Axios. We know the status quo are going to do anything and everything to maintain power, he added. 'They'll have all the money in the world - but they don't have you.' Though the final decision won't come until November, one thing is clear: Minneapolis is signaling a readiness for change - and big cities could be sparking the start of a broader movement.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Cuban Minister Ousted After Accusing Beggars of Faking Poverty
Cuba's communist government has long prided itself on its ability to meet the basic needs of the island's population, despite persistent evidence to the contrary. The contrast between the official government line and reality was brought into sharp relief this week when a government minister went on television and addressed the issue of people begging on the streets. The minister, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, who oversaw labor and social security, said on Monday that the island's beggars were faking poverty to make 'easy' money. The backlash was swift in a country mired in economic misery, where many struggle to afford food. Barely 24 hours later Ms. Feitó was out of a job. The government said she had resigned because of her lack of 'objectivity and sensitivity.' While the Communist Party remains firmly in charge, Cuba's government has faced intensifying anger among ordinary Cubans who have lost patience with the six-decade old socialist system imposed by the revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. Ms Feitó's ouster was usually fast by the standards of Cuba's often glacial bureaucracy. 'In the past, other ministers have said very unpopular things and have not been forced to resign,' said Carlos Alzugaray, a political analyst and retired Cuban diplomat who lives in Havana. 'What is unexpected in this case is the rapid popular reaction and the very quick reaction of the president.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
My Family Loves Rummikub and Miraculously So Do I
The game consists of a bunch of numbered tiles. Could it really be that fun? Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter But Rummikub? It's almost aggressively anti-narrative. The rules are shockingly simple. If you know your numbers, you can play. I didn't see this as a selling point. Hate to brag, but I've known my numbers since preschool. I thought of Uno, of the interminable games I played with young children, of the boredom of luck as a primary game mechanic, of your brain turning to mush as you awaited your fate. But mid-Rummikub, I was surprised to find that the brain power required to get rid of a single tile made me feel like the woman in the Confused Math Lady meme. I was impressed. Easy to learn and play at different strategic levels, Rummikub is a surprisingly engaging game best for three to four players. This version is lightweight and comes with a travel case. At its core, Rummikub is basically a card game, with numbered tiles in four different colors in lieu of suits. (Apparently, it was invented in 1940s communist Romania, when playing cards was outlawed.) The rules are, indeed, Rummy-esque. The goal is to get rid of all the tiles on your tray by collecting sets of at least three tiles, which you lay in front of you on the table. A set can either be a group, at least three tiles of the same number in different colors; or a run, at least three tiles with consecutive numbers in the same color. Two joker tiles, emblazoned with an iconic, mischievous face, also spice things up. At its simplest level, Rummikub involves putting together groups (tiles with the same number but in different colors) and runs (tiles with consecutive numbers of the same color). There are also two iconic jokers. Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter Once sets have begun to accumulate on the table, you can get rid of as many tiles on your tray as you possibly can during your turn by creating new sets and/or adding to existing sets on the table. If you can't lay down any tiles, you have to pick up a new one. The real fun is that you can also break apart and reform sets on the table, as long as you still create groups or runs of at least three tiles. Whoever lays all of their tiles on the table first, wins. I love the thrill, the chugging brain power required, to orchestrate a cascade of changes just to get rid of a single tile, altering the entire tablescape in the process. This also means that even when it's not your turn, you have reason to pay attention. It's also one of the joys of the game for editorial director Lauren Sullivan. 'I get horribly obnoxious playing,' she says. She often moves dozens of tiles on her turn before realizing the play won't actually work, then she has to 'unwind the entire play.' The game really gets going when you start breaking apart and reforming sets to get rid of tiles. Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter The game is easy to play with other people not just because it's quick to learn, but because it can be played at different strategic levels at the same time, and no one feels too left behind. You can play the simplest version and never break apart a set on the table, and you will still get rid of tiles, even if another player seems to be playing three-dimensional chess and is getting rid of tiles slightly faster. Adults, teenagers, seniors, and kids as young as 8 can all play together. You can go hard, but you don't have to. Lauren says the game emerged for her family during the pandemic as an intergenerational delight. She's played it with her 9-year-old, her neighbors, and her mother-in-law, who is in her 80s. Making a cascade of changes on a single turn takes a surprising amount of brain power. Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter Rounds are also relatively short — about 20 or 30 minutes. Play one round, and you've got a coffee break. Play three, and you've got a game night. The game is generally best played with three or four players, but it is possible to play with two. (There's also a version for six players, though I haven't tried it.) Rummikub is also a somewhat social game. While my go-to board games involve gathering wheat and playing animal husbandry with meeples, such complex games don't leave much time for conversation. (My partner sometimes notes I might as well be playing such a game by myself.) Like a game of cards or Scrabble, you can have snacks, talk some light smack, complain endlessly about your bad luck, and generally hang out while still focusing on the game. Another boon for my family: We get a constant influx of international relatives and are always on the hunt for games that don't rely on language. Rummikub is on track to replace Qwirkle, our previous go-to. The only problem we've found with the game is that some colorblind players have had a hard time telling the difference between similarly colored tiles, an issue that could be solved by adding dots in Sharpie to differentiate the colors. The tactile pleasure of the tiles is another unexpected delight of Rummikub, because having something solid you can hold in your hand is a bit of a novelty in the digital age. Plus, moving tiles around on a tray is easier than wrangling an increasingly large hand of cards — a boon, also, for those with limited dexterity. The version my mom gave me for Christmas comes with a travel bag. It's a little large if you're packing just a carry-on, but you can easily take it in a checked bag or on a road trip. I also like that the tiles are lightweight and have a little indent where you can put your fingers, and I like that the tray is properly designed so the tiles don't fall off. My set comes with four trays, lightweight tiles, a two-page rule book, and a carrying case for travel. Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter Rummikub's general appeal also makes it a great hostess gift. When my mom was staying with a friend for several weeks, she shipped the game ahead of time, then taught her friend how to play when she arrived. It's useful to introduce people to the game in person because it looks, well, kind of dated and boring from the box. One relative I stayed with was surprised to find she already had the game in her closet and had never played it. Much to my surprise, I've discovered this three-quarter-century-old game is also having a moment beyond my family circle. Cool kids in LA and Gen Z and millennials on the quest for analog fun play it, not to mention my co-worker Lauren and her family and neighbors. Perhaps the reason I like Rummikub best is that it brings people together (incidentally, this has become the game's tagline). Will it replace Fields of Arle and Wingspan in my game closet? Not a chance. But with those games, it can be hard to find a willing victim. Rummikub is an easier sell. People young, old, and in-between can play, no matter their first language. But the game's universality doesn't make it boring. It still scratches several gaming itches: It requires strategy, it challenges my brain, and perhaps most importantly, it takes me away from my phone and into the world where I can talk to real people and touch real things. This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder.
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
French court orders release of Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah
PARIS — A French court on Thursday ordered the conditional release of a Lebanese pro-Palestinian communist militant after more than 40 years in detention in France. Georges Ibrahim Abdallah was serving a life sentence for complicity in the murders of two diplomats, one American and one Israeli, in Paris in 1982. The Paris Court of Appeal ruled Abdallah, who has been imprisoned in France since his arrest in 1984, can be released next Friday on the condition that he leave France and never return, judicial authorities said. His lawyer, Jean-Louis Chalanset, told reporters that Abdallah wants to return to Lebanon upon his release and remains 'a communist militant who supports the Palestinian struggle and fights against the invasion of his country by Israel.' He described Abdallah as the longest-held political prisoner in Europe. 'He has never renounced his convictions,' Chalanset said, adding that U.S. authorities had lobbied the Paris court to reject the 74-year-old's release request. 'So it's also a political victory, even after nearly 41 years in detention, against the United States.' The Associated Press
