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Trump orders US flag to be flown at half-staff as mark of respect to Pope
US President Donald Trump announced in a post on Monday that the American flag would be flown at half-staff across public buildings, grounds, military posts, and naval stations, amongst other locations, as a mark of respect in the memory of Pope Francis. He made the announcement in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump said, "As a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment." He further noted, "I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations." Earlier, US President Donald Trump offered condolences on the passing of Pope Francis. In a post on Truth Social, the US President said, "Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio also grieved on the demise of Pope Francis. US Vice President JD Vance, who was the last foreign leader to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican on Sunday, expressed his condolences on the Pope's passing. The White House also condoled Pope's demise and shared a post on X, "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis." According to a Vatican statement, the Pope passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. The Vatican has announced a nine-day mourning period, known as the Novendiale, an ancient Roman tradition that continues to this day. During this time, preparations will begin for the election of the next Pontiff. After the mourning period, the Cardinals will be called into Conclave to elect the next Vicar of Christ. Following the death of the Pope, at 9:45 AM on Easter Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, spoke these words at the Casa Santa Marta." Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28, 2013, a papal conclave elected Cardinal Bergoglio as his successor on March 13. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 April,2025 08:32 AM IST | Washington | ANI
ISRO achieves docking of SpaDeX satellites for second time
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully performed the second docking of satellites as part of its Spadex missions, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Monday. He said more experiments are planned in the next two weeks. "Glad to inform that the second docking of satellites has been accomplished successfully," Singh, the minister of state for science and technology, atomic energy and space, said in a post on 'X'. He recalled that the PSLV-C60/Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) mission was launched on December 30, 2024. Thereafter satellites were successfully docked for the first time on January 16 and successfully undocked on March 13, the minister said. "Further experiments are planned in the next two weeks," Singh added. Later, in a statement, ISRO said the docking experiment of the SPADEX satellites (SDX-01 and SDX-02) for the second time was successfully carried out on April 20 at 08.20 pm. "Subsequently, power transfer from SDX-02 to SDX-01 satellite as well as vice versa was also exercised and accomplished on April 21. The experiment involved operating a heater element in one of the satellites through power from the other satellite," it said. The space agency said the duration of power transfer was approximately four minutes and the performance of the satellites was as expected. "In the second attempt, docking was completed with full autonomy from an inter-satellite distance of 15 metres till docking. In the first docking attempt, an additional hold point was manually exercised at an inter-satellite distance of 3 metres," the statement read. The second docking experiment was preceded by detailed ground simulations and on-orbit trials incorporating the experience gained from the first docking and undocking experiments, thereby providing immense confidence for the second docking demonstration, it said. "The demonstration of the fully autonomous second docking along with power transfer marks the completion of an important milestone in the SPADEX mission," the space agency added. According to ISRO, the SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for in-space docking using two small spacecraft that were launched by PSLV. In space, docking is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. This experiment is crucial for ISRO's future missions, such as the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and the landing of an astronaut on the Moon. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 April,2025 08:15 AM IST | Bengaluru | PTI
Harvard sues Trump admin to stop freeze of more than USD 2 billion in grants
Harvard University announced Monday that it has filed suit to halt a federal freeze on more than USD 2.2 billion in grants after the institution said it would defy the Trump administration's demands to limit activism on campus. In an April 11 letter to Harvard, the Trump administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university and changes to its admissions policies. It also demanded the university audit views of diversity on campus and stop recognising some student clubs. Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not bend to the demands. Hours later, the government froze billions of dollars in federal funding. 'The Government has not ' and cannot ' identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain America's position as a global leader in innovation,' said the lawsuit, filed in Boston federal court. 'Nor has the Government acknowledged the significant consequences that the indefinite freeze of billions of dollars in federal research funding will have on Harvard's research programs, the beneficiaries of that research, and the national interest in furthering American innovation and progress,' it added. Harvard's suit called the funding freeze 'arbitrary and capricious,' saying it violated its First Amendment rights and the statutory provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Within hours, the White House lashed back. 'The gravy train of federal assistance to institutions like Harvard, which enrich their grossly overpaid bureaucrats with tax dollars from struggling American families is coming to an end," White House spokesman Harrison Fields said in an email Monday. "Taxpayer funds are a privilege, and Harvard fails to meet the basic conditions required to access that privilege.' Separately, Education Department spokesperson Madi Biedermann declined to comment on the suit. For the Trump administration, Harvard presents the first major hurdle in its attempt to force change at universities that Republicans say have become hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism. A part of that is targeting research funding which has fuelled scientific breakthroughs but has become an easy source of leverage for the Trump administration. In its letter earlier this month, the administration told Harvard to impose tougher discipline on protesters and to screen international students for those who are 'hostile to the American values.' It also called for broad leadership reforms at the university, changes to admissions policies and the removal of college recognition for some student clubs. The government also demanded Harvard audit its faculty and student body to ensure wide viewpoints in every department and, if necessary, diversify by admitting additional students and hiring new faculty. Last Monday, Harvard said it would not comply, citing the First Amendment. The following day, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, questioning whether the university should lose its tax-exempt status 'if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting Sickness?'' The lawsuit follows one filed earlier this month by the American Association of University Professors demanding that a federal judge declare unlawful and put aside a pending review and investigation of Harvard's funding. The university frames the government's demands as a threat not only to the Ivy League school but to the autonomy that the Supreme Court has long granted American universities. 'Today, we stand for the values that have made American higher education a beacon for the world,' Garber wrote Monday to the Harvard community. 'We stand for the truth that colleges and universities across the country can embrace and honor their legal obligations and best fulfill their essential role in society without improper government intrusion,' he wrote. 'That is how we achieve academic excellence, safeguard open inquiry and freedom of speech, and conduct pioneering research." Anurima Bhargava, one of the alumni who has encouraged Harvard to take a tougher stand against the administration, praised the filing of the lawsuit. 'The Trump administration continues its reckless and unlawful attack for power and control over Harvard, slashing billions in funding for scientific research and innovation that improves and saves lives,' she said. 'Today, Harvard once again refused to accede to the administration's dangerous and escalating demands.' The American Council on Education, a nonprofit with more than 1,600 member colleges and universities, applauded Harvard. 'It has been clear for weeks that the administration's actions violated due process and the rule of law. We applaud Harvard for taking this step and look forward to a clear and unambiguous statement by the court rebuking efforts to undermine scholarship and science,' said Ted Mitchell, the council president. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 April,2025 08:14 AM IST | Boston | AP
FM Nirmala Sitharaman meets business leaders in San Francisco
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met several senior executives and business leaders in San Francisco and discussed bilateral areas of cooperation in sectors such as technology, artificial intelligence, energy and digital infrastructure as well as opportunities to enhance investment collaboration between India and the US. Sitharaman arrived in San Francisco Sunday as she began her 11-day trip to the US and Peru with an interaction with the Indian diaspora in the Californian city. On Monday, she held several meetings with business leaders and corporate executives. The minister met Silicon Valley venture capital firm a16z General Partner Anjney Midha and technology company VMware Chief Executive Officer Raghu Raghuram in San Francisco. She 'discussed the remarkable transformation in technology space' driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and 'suggested' that a16z and VMware "may like to explore collaboration across sectors" within the domain of AI including in education, healthcare, and AI Centres of Excellence, the Ministry of Finance said in a post on X. Raghuram said that AI is a strategic infrastructure, and the "work India is doing in the field of AI is visible.' Midha said that a16z is working in 16 areas of infrastructure dedicated sectoral funds across many countries to provide solutions to real-world problems. Sitharaman discussed the various facets of India's AI efforts, speaking about the need to skill and train the youth in the domain and encouraged a16z to explore possibilities for collaboration on that front, the Finance Ministry said. She also met Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian and his team and discussed the 'transformative evolution of India's digital infrastructure under the #DigitalIndia initiative in recent years, positioning the country as a global leader in digital adoption.' A post by the Finance Ministry on X said that Kurian acknowledged and appreciated India's AI Mission and the trajectory the country is taking under PM Modi and called for connecting India to the world via land and sea cables. He added that Google Cloud aims to operate entirely on carbon-free energy 24/7 at its data centres and offices worldwide by 2030 and spoke about an upcoming investment strategy that the group is working on for India. Sitharaman encouraged Google Cloud to 'explore local linkages in India for territorial collaboration and build tech for India and the world as part of #MakeInIndia." She also met DataRobot CEO Debanjan Saha and 'underlined the steps that the Government of India has taken over years to boost digital infrastructure, including budgeting Rs 10,300 crore for IndiaAI Mission, creating AI language technologies through BharatGen and Sarvam-1, and the establishment of the Srijan Centre for Generative AI' at the School of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at IIT-Jodhpur among others. Sitharaman informed Saha 'about the potential opportunity through the proposed Rs 1 lakh crore (USD 12 billion) corpus private sector-driven research, development, and innovation scheme' and also about India ranking first globally in AI skill penetration where it is ahead of many developed countries, the Finance Ministry said. Saha referred to India's potential to become an AI superpower and expressed interest in participating in the AI Centre of Excellence, for which the Union Budget 2025-26 recently allocated Rs 500 crore. In a meeting with Turing CEO Jonathan Siddharth, Sitharaman highlighted the policy framework that India has put in place for AI and encouraged him to explore opportunities for collaboration and fruitful engagement. Jonathan 'expressed his desire to see India at the forefront of #AI revolution and spoke about working in the domain of #AI with India and through Indian contributors to create a sovereign model that can serve as a template for the world,' the ministry said. Sitharaman also attended a luncheon roundtable hosted by the Consulate General of India in San Francisco with various pension fund managers and other institutional investors along with Finance Secretary Ajay Seth and India's Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra. The participants shared with the Finance Minister 'their views on the reforms pursued by the Government of India and gave feedback and observation on the existing policy framework." They also spoke about their keen interest and commitment for a deeper and broad-based investment collaboration between the US and India and shared feedback on how to further facilitate the investment experience. Sitharaman thanked the participants for their 'valuable" feedback and spoke about the opportunities for investment and collaboration in the domain of energy and sustainability, the Rs 1 lakh crore (USD 12 billion) corpus private sector'driven Research, Development, and Innovation Scheme, and GIFT-IFSC among others. Later in the day, she delivered a keynote address on 'Laying the foundations for a developed India #ViksitBharat by 2047', at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. She also participated in a fireside chat with Professor Steve Davis during the event. From San Francisco, she will travel to Washington DC from April 22-25, where she will participate in the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the 2nd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governor (FMCBG) Meetings, Development Committee Plenary, IMFC Plenary, and Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) meeting. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 April,2025 08:13 AM IST | New York | PTI
Very clear EC is compromised: Rahul Gandhi in US
The Election Commission is “compromised”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged at an event in the US as he attacked the poll panel citing turnout figures in the Maharashtra election, drawing a strong reaction from the BJP which called him a “traitor”. Gandhi noted that he had been raising the issue earlier also and alleged that “there is something wrong with the system”. However, the BJP linked his criticism to the ED’s action in the National Herald case, alleging he had not only “insulted” the country’s institutions on foreign soil but had also indulged in corruption. Gandhi arrived in the US on Saturday and made the remarks at an event in Boston on Sunday. The LoP in the Lok Sabha claimed that, in simple terms, more people voted in the Maharashtra Assembly elections than there were adults in the state. “It is very clear to us that the Election Commission (EC) is compromised, and it is very clear that there is something wrong with the system. I have said this multiple times,” he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 April,2025 08:11 AM IST | Boston | Agencies
Pope Francis passes away at 88
Pope Francis has died, the Vatican said on Monday. The Pope passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, according to a statement from the Vatican. At 9.45 am on Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7.35 this morning, The Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father’s house. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of God, One and Triune.” Faithful walk to St Peter’s Square Francis made his final public appearance a day earlier on Easter Sunday, though he had delegated the celebration of the Easter Mass to another cardinal. He blessed a crowd of faithful from the loggia of St Peter’s Basilica. “Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter,” he said. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalisation of his papacy. Who’ll be next pope? Some contenders are: Cardinal Pietro ParolinThe 70-year-old Italian is the highest-ranking cardinal in the conclave Cardinal Matteo ZuppiHe is said to have been close to Pope Francis. The 69-year-old Italian is seen as a spiritual successor to Francis Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he arrives for the weekly general audience at St Peter’s square in The Vatican. File Pics/AFP Cardinal Peter TurksonFrom Ghana, he could make history, if elected, as the first Black Pope Cardinal Robert SarahThe 79-year-old, a Guinean, is a favourite among the traditionalist faction of the Church Cardinal Peter ErdöThe 72-year-old Hungarian cardinal is conservative Cardinal Luis Antonio TagleThe 67-year-old is the seventh Filipino to become a cardinal Angelo ScolaHe is a long-standing contender and was in the race in 2013 From humble origins to world leader Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, to Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires, Argentina—the eldest of five children. He was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1969 and led the religious order in Argentina during the country’s murderous dictatorship from 1976-83. He became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and elevated to cardinal in 2001 by St John Paul II. He was elected the 266th pope on March 13, 2013, on the fifth ballot. Pope Francis with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Vatican City on October 30, 2021. File Pic/PTI Francis’ firsts >> The first pope from the Americas>> The first from the Jesuit order to be elected pope>> The first to take the name of Francis, after St Francis of Assisi>> The first to visit Iraq, meeting its top Shiite Muslim cleric in 2021 Francis’ famous quotes ‘Brothers and sisters, good evening!’Francis’ first words delivered from the loggia of St Peter’s Basilica after his election as pontiff on March 13, 2013 ‘Who am I to judge?’Francis, responding to a question about a purportedly gay priest ‘The meeting is the message’Francis, upon meeting Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azha ‘Being homosexual is not a crime’Francis, in an interview with The Associated Press Rites and rituals that follow The death of a pope sets in motion a series of carefully orchestrated rites and rituals well before the conclave to elect his successor begins. They involve the certification of death and public display of his body for the faithful to pay their respects, followed by the funeral and burial. Pope Francis revised various rites last year, simplifying the funeral rituals to emphasize his role as a mere bishop and allowing for burial outside the Vatican in keeping with his wishes. But the core elements remain. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 April,2025 08:08 AM IST | Vatican City | Agencies
King Charles, PM Keir Starmer lead UK tributes to Pope Francis
King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer led an outpouring of tributes in the UK after the Vatican's announcement that Pope Francis had passed away on Easter Monday. Pope Francis, the first Latin American priest to lead the Roman Catholic Church, had appeared in St Peter's Square in Vatican City for the customary Easter celebrations on Sunday, his first major public event after being discharged from hospital recently following five weeks of treatment for an infection. His death will set in motion a centuries-old process of electing a new Pope through a papal conclave. "Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry," King Charles and Queen Camilla said in a statement released by Buckingham Palace. "His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world," they said. The British royals, who had met the Pope on their visit to Italy earlier this month, praised his work and care for "both people and planet". "We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ," the statement concluded. Starmer's statement issued by 10 Downing Street hailed the Pope's leadership in a complex and challenging time for the world and the Catholic Church in a "courageous" way and with "deep humility". The British Prime Minister said: "Pope Francis was a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten. He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty. Yet he never lost hope of a better world. That hope was as the heart of his papacy. His determination to visibly live out his faith inspired people across the world to see afresh the church's teachings of mercy and charity. With his death, we are reminded once more of his call to care for one another across different faiths, backgrounds, nations and beliefs. My thoughts are with Catholics across the world, and the Roman Catholic church. May His Holiness Rest in Peace." Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak was among those taking to social media to express their condolences. "Pope Francis spoke to the world with moral clarity and humility. He reminded us of the dignity of every person, especially the poor and those without a voice," said the British Indian Opposition Conservative Party MP. "My thoughts are with Catholics and all those around the world who drew strength from his leadership," he said. Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, said the Pope's death on Easter Monday "feels especially poignant", adding that he "reminded us that leadership isn't about power, but about service". Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, a practicing Catholic, said the Pope was a "voice for peace, tolerance and reconciliation". Eluned Morgan, the First Minister of Wales, said Pope Francis "led with unwavering humility, courage and profound compassion". Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill noted the Pope's 2018 visit to Ireland, during which he "spoke passionately in support of the peace process", while Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly offered her "sincere condolences to all those who mourn" his death. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
21 April,2025 06:46 PM IST | London | PTI
BREAKING
Pope Francis dies at 88, Vatican confirms
Pope Francis, an energetic reformer who inspired widespread devotion from Catholics but riled traditionalists, died on Monday aged 88. The Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, spent 38 days being treated for double pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli hospital before seeming to recover and leaving the facility on March 23. His death came just a day after he delighted the crowds of worshippers at the Vatican on Easter Sunday with an appearance on the balcony at Saint Peter's Basilica. "Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the statement published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel. "This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. "His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church." His death sets in motion centuries-old traditions that will culminate in the gathering of a conclave of cardinals to choose a successor. In the meantime, the day-to-day running of the tiny Vatican City state will be handled by the camerlengo, a senior cardinal, currently Dublin-born Kevin Farrell. Francis, whose real name was Jorge Bergoglio, was the first Jesuit to lead the world's almost 1.4 billion Catholics and the first from the Americas. He took over after Benedict XVI became the first pontiff since the Middle Ages to step down -- and cut a sharply different figure from the German theologian. A football-loving former archbishop of Buenos Aires who was often happiest among his flock, Francis sought to forge a more open and compassionate church. He strongly defended social justice, the rights of migrants and the environment, while also pushing through governance reforms and tackling the scourge of clerical sex abuse of children. But critics accused him of creating doctrinal confusion and failing to defend traditional Catholic beliefs on key issues such as abortion and divorce. Francis's desire to chart a different path was evident right to the end, with his decision to be buried not in St Peter's Basilica but in Rome's Santa Maria Maggiore basilica. He will become the first pope in more than 100 years to be laid to rest outside the Vatican. Francis also rejected the tradition of popes having three coffins, instead choosing to buried in just one, made of wood and zinc, to reflect his role as a humble pastor. Health issues - Francis had left open the possibility of stepping down if he felt unable to do his job, following the example of Benedict, who quit citing his ailing health. But he insisted for years that time had not yet come, and maintained a busy schedule, right up to hosting the prime minister of Slovakia shortly before his hospital admission. Francis, who had part of his lung removed as a young man, was visibly breathless in the days before going to the Gemelli, delegating aides to read his homilies at public audiences. Questions will now be asked whether the pontiff, known for being stubborn and refusing to take rest, should have been admitted to hospital earlier. Even after he was released from hospital and ordered to rest for two months, Francis did not wait long before making public appearances. He had been hospitalised with a respiratory infection in March 2023. That same year he also underwent surgery for a hernia, and in 2021 he had colon surgery. He suffered knee pain that required him to use a wheelchair, and had fallen twice in recent months. Yet he never took a day off and made frequent trips abroad, including a four-nation Asia-Pacific tour only last September. Huge crowds gathered wherever he went, a testament to his popularity and human touch, which saw him finish his Sunday Angelus prayer each week urging followers to pray for him and to have a good lunch. Who am I to judge? - When Francis took over, the Catholic Church was mired in infighting and beset by a global scandal over clerical sex abuse of children and decades of cover-ups. He promised an end to impunity and changed Vatican law to help tackle abuse, though victims said he could have gone further. More widely, he initiated a major shake-up of the Vatican's powerful governing body, including improving financial responsibility and allowing lay Catholics to lead Vatican offices. Throughout his papacy, Francis championed the poor and vulnerable and emphasised love over doctrine. "If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?" he said at the start of his papacy. However, his detractors accused him of failing to uphold established Church doctrine, and his final months were marked by increasingly outspoken attacks by senior cardinals. Tensions with conservative Catholics marked the Synod congress that met at the Vatican at the end of 2023, part of a years-long global consultation on the future of the church -- that Francis now leaves unfinished. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 April,2025 03:16 PM IST | Vatican | AFP
Israel military admits "professional error" in Gaza strike that killed 15 medics
The Israeli military has acknowledged multiple "professional errors" and breaches of protocol that led to the death of 15 Palestinian medics and first responders in Southern Gaza's Rafah on March 23. An internal investigation of the incident revealed a "failure to report the incident," prompting disciplinary action against several officers, The Times of Israel reported. According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), the deputy commander of the Golani Brigade's reconnaissance unit, which opened fire on a convoy of ambulances and emergency vehicles, has been dismissed, The Times of Israel reported. The unit commander is also being removed for filing a "partial and inaccurate" report on the incident, the IDF said. Additionally, the Israeli military is also formally censuring the commander of the 14th Reserve Armoured Brigade, the unit leading the operation in Rafah when the killing of the medics took place, for his "overall responsibility for the incident," The Times of Israel reported. However, the IDF refused the allegations that the military indiscriminately fired on the medics and rescuers, adding that the soldiers incorrectly identified ambulances as Hamas vehicles. "The military investigation said that the fact that several ambulances passed on the road during the night without incident, and several civilians were detained, shows that the troops did not indiscriminately open fire on the ambulances. Rather, it said, the soldiers were anticipating a threat, following the first vehicle that was incorrectly identified as a Hamas police car," IDF said in a summary of the probe. IDF also said that the soldiers stopped firing once they realised they were firing on the ambulances and added that no evidence of troops executing or handcuffing the medics was found, The Times of Israel reported. Of the 15 Palestinians killed, six were posthumously identified by the IDF as Hamas operatives. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 April,2025 08:31 AM IST | Tel Aviv | ANI
Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposes 30-day halt on airstrikes targeting civilian infra
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday (local time) proposed a 30-day pause on long-range drone and missile strikes on civilian infrastructure, noting that no air strikes were conducted by the Russian military during the Easter ceasefire despite committing over 2,000 other violations. Accusing Russia of continuing its ground offensive despite declaring a ceasefire on Easter, Zelenskyy expressed optimism on a pause in air strikes and said that this format is "easiest to extend." "Since the beginning of the day, the Russian army has violated Putin's ceasefire more than two thousand times," Zelenskyy wrote on X. "However, there were no air raid alerts today. Hence, this is a format of ceasefire that has been achieved and that is the easiest to extend. Ukraine proposes to cease any strikes using long-range drones and missiles on civilian infrastructure for a period of at least 30 days, with the possibility of extension," he added. A report by Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi as of 8:00 p.m. on Easter Day.As of this hour, since the beginning of the day, the Russian army has violated Putin’s ceasefire more than two thousand times. There have already been 67 Russian assaults against our positions across various… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 20, 2025 Zelanskyy said that if Russia rejects this step, then its only intentions are to "destroy human lives and prolong the war." "If Russia does not agree to such a step, it will be proof that it intends to continue doing only those things which destroy human lives and prolong the war," he said. Additionally, Zelenskyy listed out the alleged 2,000 instances of violence, noting that 1,355 cases of Russian shelling, 67 cases of assault and use of FPVs (first-person view). "There have already been 67 Russian assaults against our positions across various directions, with the highest number in the Pokrovsk direction. There were a total of 1,355 cases of Russian shelling, 713 of which involved heavy weaponry. The Russians also used FPVs 673 times," Zelenskyy said. Earlier, both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire. Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) accused Ukrainian troops of hitting Russian positions with guns and mortars 444 times. The MFA wrote on X, "Russia's MoD: During the night of the #EasterCeasefire, the kiev regime launched 48 fixed-wing UAVs, including one over Crimea. Ukrainian troops hit Russian positions with guns and mortars 444 times, carried out 900 quadcopter-type drone strikes," the Russian MFA said in a post on X. Zelenskyy reiterated that Russian forces had in fact intensified their attacks on Easter Day, despite President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a 30-hour ceasefire in observance of Easter. This was the second ceasefire to be announced since the conflict began in 2022. The previous attempt, during Orthodox Christmas in January 2023, also failed after both sides were unable to agree on a proposal. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 April,2025 08:31 AM IST | Kyiv | ANI
Hopefully Russia, Ukraine will make a deal this week: US President Donald Trump
United States President Donald Trump has expressed optimism that Russia and Ukraine could strike a peace agreement this week to end the ongoing war. Taking to his media platform Truth Social on Sunday (local time), Trump said that once the two nations reach an agreement, both would be able to "make a fortune" by doing business with the US. "HOPEFULLY RUSSIA AMD UKRAINE WILL MAKE A DEAL THIS WEEK. BOTH WILL THEN START TO DO BIG BUSINESS WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH IS THRIVING, AND MAKE A FORTUNE," Trump wrote. Meanwhile, CNN on Friday reported, citing an official familiar with the proposed framework, that the US is ready to recognise Russian control over Crimea as part of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. The peace proposal includes an immediate ceasefire between the two countries. The framework was shared with the Ukrainian and European officials in Paris on Thursday. However, there are some pieces that still need to be filled out, and the US plans to work with Europe and Ukraine on this next week in London, the source said. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 following a military invasion -- a move widely condemned as illegal by the international community. Earlier, Donald Trump also signalled the US may "take a pass" on its efforts to broker a peace deal if either side makes negotiations too difficult, CNN reported. "If, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say, 'You're foolish, you're foolish. You're horrible people,' and we're just going to take a pass," Trump said. Despite the warning, Trump expressed cautious optimism about securing a deal, CNN reported. "I think we have a really good chance of getting it done. It's coming to a head right now," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 April,2025 08:29 AM IST | Washington | ANI