分类： politics

Kim Yong Nam, a prominent North Korean bureaucrat who served as the country’s ceremonial head of state for two decades, has died at the age of 97, according to state media. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday that Kim, former president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, succumbed to multiple organ failure on Monday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un paid his respects at Kim Yong Nam’s bier on Tuesday, with the funeral scheduled for Thursday. Kim Yong Nam, who was not related to the ruling Kim family, held the nominal head of state position from 1998 to 2019, though real power remained with the Kim dynasty. Known for his deep, resonant voice and propaganda-laden speeches, Kim Yong Nam frequently represented North Korea in diplomatic engagements, including a historic 2018 visit to South Korea for the Pyeongchang Olympics. His career spanned decades, surviving political purges and serving as foreign minister during pivotal global changes, including the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union’s collapse. Kim Yong Nam’s loyalty to the Kim dynasty was unwavering, as evidenced by his role in eulogizing Kim Il Sung and nominating Kim Jong Il for leadership. Educated at Kim Il Sung University and Moscow State University, Kim Yong Nam’s legacy reflects his adaptability and steadfast commitment to North Korea’s regime.

Dick Cheney, the 46th Vice President of the United States and a central figure in the nation’s post-9/11 foreign policy, has passed away at the age of 84. His family confirmed his death, attributing it to complications from pneumonia, cardiac disease, and vascular conditions. Cheney, who served under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, was a towering yet polarizing figure in American politics, known for his role in shaping the “war on terror” and the controversial Iraq War.

Cheney’s career spanned decades, beginning as a White House aide under President Richard Nixon and later serving as Defense Secretary under President George H.W. Bush. He was instrumental in the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989 and Operation Desert Storm in 1991. As Vice President, Cheney wielded significant influence, particularly in advocating for the Iraq War based on claims of weapons of mass destruction—later proven false. His aggressive policies, including support for enhanced interrogation techniques and the detention of terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, drew widespread criticism.

Despite his controversial legacy, Cheney remained unapologetic, asserting that his actions were necessary to protect the nation. In his later years, he became a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, whom he labeled a “coward” and a threat to the republic. Cheney’s final years were marked by his endorsement of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, a symbolic gesture reflecting his disillusionment with the modern Republican Party.

Cheney’s life was also marked by significant health challenges, including multiple heart attacks and a heart transplant in 2012. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lynne, their two daughters, Liz and Mary, and seven grandchildren. His death marks the end of an era for a man who shaped American politics in profound and often contentious ways.

The co-chairs of the Caribbean Caucus in the United States House of Representatives have issued a stern condemnation of what they label as illegal and unilateral military airstrikes ordered by the Trump administration in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. Congresswomen Yvette Clarke, who also leads the Congressional Black Caucus, and Maxine Waters jointly expressed their concerns in a statement released on Friday. They criticized the administration for employing a ‘kill first, ask questions never’ strategy, arguing that such actions violate international law, strain relations with Caribbean nations, and endanger civilian lives. The lawmakers demanded an immediate cessation of the strikes and greater transparency regarding the operations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, also voiced his disapproval, emphasizing that the airstrikes breach international human rights law. Türk reported that over 60 individuals have allegedly been killed since early September and urged the US to halt these ‘unacceptable’ operations to prevent further ‘extrajudicial killings.’ While the Trump administration has justified the strikes as part of counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism efforts, Türk dismissed this rationale, stating that drug enforcement must adhere to strict limits on the use of lethal force. He called for independent investigations into the reported incidents. Amnesty International has separately labeled the strikes as ‘murder’ and urged the US Congress to intervene and stop the operations. The human rights organization noted that US officials have confirmed 13 strikes—eight in the Caribbean and five in the Pacific—and argued that the US is not engaged in any armed conflict in the region that would legally justify such military actions. Amnesty officials also pointed out that the administration has failed to provide evidence that the targeted individuals posed imminent threats or that the vessels could not have been intercepted and boarded.