News from April 23, 2025 at 2 AM

Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church for 12 years, has died at the age of 88. His death initiates the centuries-old process of electing a new Pope. The Pope, as the head of the Catholic Church, is a key authority for the world's approximately 1.4 billion Catholics. Francis opted for a simple wooden coffin and scrapped the tradition of public viewing in St Peter's Basilica, becoming the first Pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican. The new Pope will be elected by the College of Cardinals, with 138 cardinals currently eligible to vote. The election takes place in strict secrecy within the Sistine Chapel until a new Pope is chosen.

On April 21, 2025, President Donald Trump sharply criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on social media, calling him a 'major loser' for failing to lower interest rates to boost the economy. Trump urged Powell to cut rates 'pre-emptively,' warning of a potential economic slowdown. The criticism comes as Trump's tariff plans have triggered a stock market sell-off and raised fears of a recession. The S&P 500 fell about 2.4% on the day, having lost roughly 12% of its value since the year's start; the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2.5%, down about 10% year-to-date; and the Nasdaq fell over 2.5%, down approximately 18% since January. The dollar index hit its lowest level since 2022, and US government bond yields rose. Trump has previously criticized Powell and discussed firing him. Last week, he publicly called for Powell's termination, sparking controversy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated his openness to bilateral talks with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time since the early stages of the war. In a speech to Russian state TV, Putin stated that Russia has always viewed peace initiatives positively. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted Putin's willingness to engage in direct talks with Ukraine to avoid striking civilian targets. Zelensky did not respond directly but expressed Ukraine's readiness for any conversation ensuring civilian safety. There have been no direct talks since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Zelensky proposed a 30-day cessation of long-range drone and missile strikes on civilian infrastructure, which Putin said the Kremlin would analyze. Earlier this month, a Russian missile strike on a civilian building in Sumy killed 35 and injured over 100. Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's offer not to strike civilian infrastructure and awaited a clear response from Moscow. Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes in Odessa injured three people. Ukraine is set to participate in talks with the US and European countries in London on Wednesday, following discussions in Paris last week on ending the war.

US Vice-President JD Vance has arrived in Delhi, India, to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on expediting a bilateral trade deal. Vance is also scheduled to visit Agra and Jaipur with his family. The visit comes amid global trade tensions, with Trump imposing steep reciprocal tariffs on several countries. India has already reduced tariffs on some US goods. The bilateral trade between the US and India stands at $190 billion, with India enjoying a $45 billion trade surplus. Vance's tour is seen as a precursor to Trump's expected visit to India later this year.

On April 22, over 100 US universities and colleges, including Princeton and Brown, issued a joint letter condemning President Donald Trump's 'political interference' in the education system. This followed Harvard University's lawsuit against the Trump administration, which had threatened to cut funding and impose external political supervision. The letter opposed unprecedented government overreach and the coercive use of public research funding. Trump has accused prestigious universities of tolerating campus anti-Semitism, threatening their budgets and enrollment. Harvard rejected the government's demands, leading the administration to freeze $2.2 billion in federal funding. Harvard's lawsuit seeks to declare the fund freeze and grant conditions unlawful and demands the government cover its costs. The Department of Homeland Security also threatened Harvard's ability to enroll international students.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is accused of texting sensitive military strike plans from his personal phone to his wife, brother, and others. Less than 90 days into his tenure, Hegseth has swiftly reshaped the Pentagon, firing top generals and causing internal turmoil. The White House views this as a conspiracy against Hegseth, but President Donald Trump remains supportive. Trusted advisor Dan Caldwell and deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick were dismissed over leaks. Former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot described the department as in 'total chaos' and urged Trump to fire Hegseth. Democratic lawmakers are increasingly calling for Hegseth's resignation.

Pope Francis spoke in Arabic to parishioners in Gaza earlier this year, highlighting his close relationship with the tiny Christian community in the region. During 18 months of war, he called them nightly to check on their wellbeing. The Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City served as a refuge for the few remaining Christians, who felt they lost a dear friend with the Pope's death. He often encouraged them to be strong during video calls and asked how he could help. In his final Easter message, he called for a ceasefire and peace in Gaza. Israeli media noted the absence of condolences from the prime minister and foreign minister, attributed to the Pope's strong stance against the Gaza war. Gaza Christians hope the next Pope will continue to advocate for peace.

On April 22, 2025, explosions occurred at an ammunition depot in the Vladimir region east of Moscow, Russia. The Russian Defence Ministry stated that the blasts were triggered by a fire in the storage building due to a violation of safety requirements. A state of emergency has been declared in the Kirzhach district, and nearby villagers have been evacuated. Videos from the site show intense flames and mushroom clouds from the explosions. The ministry confirmed no casualties and has set up a commission to investigate. The facility, part of the 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate, is about 130 kilometers northeast of the Russian capital.

According to The New York Post, US President Donald Trump's plan to resolve the Ukrainian conflict may involve deploying European troops in Kiev-controlled territories. The 'resiliency force' in the plan aims to provide the security guarantees sought by Ukraine. Negotiators are considering a separate peacekeeping force, resembling a 'joint commission' of Russians, Ukrainians, and a third, non-NATO country, to monitor any ceasefire. The US might participate financially rather than with boots on the ground. Ukraine appears willing to cede 20% of its land, provided it is recognized 'de facto' rather than 'de jure.' Previously, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the presence of NATO troops on Ukrainian territory in any capacity is a threat to Russia, which Moscow will never accept.

Russian-Georgian sculptor, painter, and architect Zurab Tsereteli passed away on Tuesday at the age of 91. Rising to prominence in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s, he was known for his large-scale projects and later for his close ties to the Russian political elite. In 2004, he said Vladimir Putin's 'healthy soul' inspired him to create a bronze study of the Russian president. A friendship with former Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov led to commissions such as the monumental statue of Tsar Peter the Great in central Moscow and a key role in reconstructing the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described him as 'an artist of world renown.' His works also include monuments to the discovery of the Americas in Seville, Spain, and Puerto Rico, and the Chronicle of Georgia monument in his hometown Tbilisi. One of his sculptures, the ten-storey Tear of Grief, was gifted to the U.S. by the Russian government as a 9/11 memorial and stands in New Jersey.

On Monday, a rare shark attack occurred off the coast of Hadera in northern Israel, resulting in a swimmer going missing. Witnesses at Olga Beach captured the incident on video and posted it on social media. The area is known for sharks gathering due to warm water discharged by a local power plant, but they are usually harmless. No fatal shark attacks have been recorded in Israeli waters since the country's founding in 1948. Police have closed the beach and are searching for the missing man. Witness Eliya Motai told Ynet that he saw blood and heard screams in the water. The region, dominated by the Orot Rabin power station, the largest in Israel, attracts dusky and sanbar sharks. According to YNet, this incident is only the fourth documented shark attack in Israel's history.