Former Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj dies

Wednesday, 7 August 2019 07:25

India's former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has died.

The 67-year-old was admitted to a hospital in New Delhi after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Indian Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan had accompanied her in the hospital.

Swaraj was appointed the foreign minister in the first term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in 2014.

She opted out of the 2019 Indian general elections, citing health reasons.

During her time as Indian External Affairs Minister, Swaraj was known for being active on Twitter reaching out to the Indian diaspora in distress and offering them assistance.

She will be cremated with full state honours later on Wednesday.

More from International News

India inspects spice makers over alleged contamination

India is inspecting facilities of spice makers MDH and Everest for compliance with quality standards after sales of some of their products were halted in Hong Kong and Singapore for allegedly containing high levels of a cancer-causing pesticide.
Israeli media predict offensive in Gaza's Rafah soon

Israel is poised to send troops into Rafah, the Gazan city it sees as the last bastion of Hamas, Israeli media reported on Wednesday, saying preparations were under way to evacuate war-displaced Palestinian civilians who have been sheltering there.
Russia detains ally of Defence Minister Shoigu for corruption

A Russian court on Wednesday ordered one of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu's deputies be kept in custody on suspicion of taking bribes, the highest-profile corruption case since President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine in 2022.
Trump meets with Japan's former prime minister Aso

Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, a senior figure in the country's ruling party, met with Donald Trump on Tuesday, becoming the latest US ally seeking to establish ties with the Republican presidential candidate.