WORLD

VATICAN, ROME | TASS | Pope Francis’ coffin will be taken to St. Peter’s Basilica on April 23 for the faithful to pay their final respects, the Holy See press service said. The coffin will be carried across St. Peter’s Square from the Casa Santa Marta residence outside the Vatican’s …

  WUHAN | Xinhua |  China has made significant progress in vaccine development and immunization, marked by a growing portfolio of domestically produced vaccines and remarkable public health results. These achievements were highlighted at the 2025 National Vaccines and Health Conference, held over the weekend in Wuhan, capital of Hubei …

KIEV | Xinhua |  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Monday that Ukraine will hold peace talks with the United Kingdom, France, and the United States in London on Wednesday. “Already this Wednesday, our representatives will be working in London,” Zelensky wrote on social media platform X after phone talks …

VATICAN CITY | TASS |  Pope Francis will be buried some time between Friday and Sunday of this week, a Vatican spokesman said. He said that under Vatican rules, the funeral must take place on the fourth to sixth day after the pope’s death. The exact date will be agreed …

Vatican, Italy | THE INDEPENDENT | The passing of Pope Francis has set in motion the Vatican’s long-established protocol for selecting his successor. Within 15 to 20 days of his passing on Easter Monday,  cardinals from around the world will gather for the Papal Conclave in the Sistine Chapel, within …

Pope Francis’ spiritual testament, dated 29 June 2022, has been published, giving indications for his burial in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Vatican, Italy | POPE FRANCIS |  Miserando atque Eligendo (By having mercy, by choosing Him). In the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen. As I sense …

VATICAN NEWS: With Pope Francis’ passing, we recall his unforgettable efforts that contributed to friendship and dialogue between Christians and people of all religions. Vatican, Italy | THE INDEPENDENT |   The first visit of a Pope to the Arabian Peninsula and to Iraq; his dear friendship with Rabbi Abraham Skorka …

COMMENT | KONSTANTY GEBERT |   Can an Israeli prime minister dismiss the country’s internal security chief? The Israeli Supreme Court considered that question on April 8, when it placed a pause on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s firing of Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet since October 2021. Seemingly expecting …

Putin and Francis were personally acquainted MOSCOW | TASS | Russian President Vladimir Putin held deep respect for Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “The president sent a telegram expressing his condolences over the Pope’s death. They had met many times …

The only clue about how the election is proceeding is the smoke that emerges twice a day from burning the cardinals’ ballot papers. Black signals failure. The traditional white smoke means the new Pope has been chosen. Rome, Italy | BBC |  Pope Francis has died at the age of …