Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. The Vatican confirmed his death in a statement read by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, at 7:35 a.m. local time. The announcement was made from the Casa Santa Marta, the residence where Pope Francis had lived since the beginning of his papacy. Cardinal Farrell described the pope as having "dedicated his entire life to th

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has embarked on a significant 11-day official tour to the United States and Peru to deepen India's role in global economic policy, strengthen bilateral relationships, and lead India’s presence at key multilateral forums. Her visit, taking place during a time of growing international economic uncertainty, aims to project India’s strategic interests in trade, finance, and development partnerships. Beginning in San Francisco, Sithar

US Vice President JD Vance began his four-day visit to India on Monday, launching a strategic mission to deepen trade, defense, and energy partnerships with the South Asian nation. Arriving in New Delhi with his wife Usha and their children, Vance is engaging in high-level meetings and cultural visits, underscoring the personal and diplomatic importance of the trip. At the center of this visit is a scheduled meeting between Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders are expected to

In a rare moment of praise for a Western entrepreneur, Russian President Vladimir Putin has drawn a striking comparison between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and one of Russia’s most revered scientific figures, Sergei Korolev. Speaking to a group of university students about the direction of Russia’s space program, Putin acknowledged Musk’s ambitious efforts in space exploration and suggested that his ideas, though bold, may one

In a speech that is expected to provoke strong responses from India, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir reiterated the long-standing claim that Kashmir is Pakistan's “jugular vein” and reaffirmed his support for the two-nation theory, which served as the foundation for the 1947 Partition of India. Addressing a gathering of Pakistanis abroad, General Munir delivered a message that blended national pride, historical justification, and a clear stance on the country&rs

India and the United States are preparing to open formal discussions this week on a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement, taking advantage of a 90-day pause in escalating tariffs. The two nations, long-standing economic and strategic partners, are moving to resolve trade tensions and explore deeper commercial engagement at a time when global trade is under pressure from protectionist trends and economic uncertainty. The initial discussions will be conducted virtually, with officials from both

  In a major escalation of the ongoing trade conflict between the United States and China, Beijing has announced a significant hike in tariffs on American goods, raising import duties from 84% to 125%. The move, confirmed by the Chinese finance ministry on Friday, is a direct response to recent tariff increases imposed by the U.S. administration. It marks one of the most severe retaliatory actions taken by China in the prolonged dispute that has gripped global markets and resha

A tragic helicopter crash in New York City claimed the lives of all six individuals onboard on Thursday when a sightseeing helicopter broke apart midair and plunged into the Hudson River. The incident occurred near Pier 40, off the coast of Lower Manhattan, and sparked a massive emergency response from both New York and New Jersey officials. Among those killed in the crash was Agustin Escobar, the president and CEO of the Spanish division of Siemens, a global technology giant. He was accompan

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to travel to Moscow next month to represent India at Russia's grand Victory Day celebrations, according to reports by Russian state media. The event, scheduled for May 9, will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Russia’s victory in the Great Patriotic War and is set to take place on the historic Red Square. The report, released by Russia’s state-run news agency Tass, cited Indian government sources confirming that Singh’s p

China has issued a stern warning in response to former President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat, pledging to fight back with equal force if the United States raises duties on Chinese goods to a staggering 104%. The Chinese Commerce Ministry declared it would “resolutely” take all necessary countermeasures to defend the country’s economic interests, reinforcing its position that any trade war escalation would be met with firm resistance. Trump announced o

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates, will begin a two-day official visit to India on Tuesday, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced Monday. This marks the first official visit to India by Sheikh Hamdan in his capacity as Crown Prince and will include meetings with top Indian leadership as well as engagements aimed at strengthening b

South Korea’s Constitutional Court has officially removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office after unanimously upholding his impeachment. The historic decision, which comes months after the National Assembly voted to impeach him, has sent shockwaves through the country’s political landscape. This ruling marks only the second time a South Korean president has been ousted in modern history, following the impeachment of former leader Park Geun-hye in 2017. The court'

More than 250 passengers, including several Indian nationals, have been stranded for over 30 hours at Diyarbakir Airport in southeastern Turkey following an emergency landing by a Virgin Atlantic flight. The aircraft, operating under flight number VS358, had departed London’s Heathrow Airport at 11:40 a.m. local time on April 2 and was due to arrive in Mumbai at 1:40 a.m. IST on April 3. However, a medical emergency on board forced the aircraft to divert and land unexpectedly at Diyarba

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a three-day diplomatic visit to Southeast Asia, beginning with Thailand where he is attending the 6th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit. Following his engagements in Thailand, PM Modi will travel to Sri Lanka to further deepen bilateral relations with the island nation. Upon his arrival in Thailand, PM Modi was warmly received by members of the Indian community, highlighting the strong c

President Donald Trump is scheduled to convene a pivotal meeting at the White House on Wednesday to deliberate the future of TikTok's operations in the United States. This gathering comes as the deadline approaches for the Chinese-owned app to divest its U.S. operations or face a potential ban. Vice President JD Vance, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz are among the key

India is adopting a cautious and calculated approach to the impending announcement of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs,” set to be revealed on April 2. Unlike many other major economies that have opted for more immediate reactions, India is choosing to assess the actual impact of these tariffs before determining its response. This considered stance reflects India’s broader strategy in evaluating trade deals and tariffs. Indian officials have indicated

Washington: As anticipation builds over US President Donald Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" tariff announcement, the White House has confirmed there will be no exemptions in the new wave of reciprocal tariffs. Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt made it clear that these tariffs are aimed at putting an end to what the administration calls decades of "unfair trade practices" against American exporters. President Trump has

In an unexpected twist to Turkey’s ongoing political unrest, a viral moment stole headlines as a protester dressed in a Pikachu costume was seen fleeing police in Antalya during a demonstration against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The bizarre yet symbolic act of defiance unfolded in the early hours of March 27, as law enforcement deployed water cannons to scatter demonstrators. What began as a nationwide outrage ove

The European Union has issued a new set of guidelines urging its 450 million citizens to prepare for potential crises by stockpiling essential supplies. These supplies, which should last for at least 72 hours, include food, water, medicine, flashlights, and other critical items. The EU’s recommendation comes as part of an updated security strategy, considering the rising global threats that Europe faces today, including warfare, cyberattacks, the impacts of

In what appears to be a notable shift in the diplomatic tone between two of Asia’s largest economies, China and India are reportedly working on resuming direct flights that were halted five years ago due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent border clashes. This development comes as both nations gear up to celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship on April 1, 2025. Chinese Consul General in Kolkata, Xu Wei, confirmed in a press conference that negotiations are on