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Today’s news: Globally, Pope Francis dies at 88, and updates from Russia, China, and India. Locally, a major anti-polio drive begins across Pakistan, 15 arrested in Karachi for Ahmadi community mob lynching, and protests in Sindh against federal canal plans.

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Around The World

Pope Francis dead at 88. Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, died Monday, aged 88. Read a brief overview of his life and his reforms in the church here.

The Vatican’s announcement came as a shock to many, coming less than a day after the pope made a high-profile appearance in public. He appeared before thousands of Catholic pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square for the Vatican’s open-air Easter Sunday mass and called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Just before that, he held a brief meeting with US Vice President JD Vance. 

His death will prompt a period of mourning, after which all cardinals under the age of 80 will convene to pick the next leader of the Catholic Church. It typically takes between two and three weeks for a new pope to be chosen.

Updates from Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an unexpected and brief unilateral Easter truce on Saturday. Putin said that Kyiv’s actions during the ceasefire would show its readiness for a peaceful settlement. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy insisted that Russian assault operations were ongoing throughout the truce. Russia resumed its aerial attacks today after the Easter truce expired, killing three people in the southern Kherson region.

No situationships. Beijing has warned its trading partners against succumbing to US pressure to isolate China in Trump’s tariff war, as part of its carrot-and-stick approach to win over countries caught between the world’s two largest economies. Governments, including those of Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, have begun negotiations with Washington. Last week, VP Vance said there was a good chance a trade deal could be reached with the UK.

Nama-stay. US VP JD Vance began a four-day visit to India today as the two countries seek to unlock economic opportunities and negotiate a bilateral trade deal. Vance will meet PM Modi in New Delhi for talks on the economy, trade, and geopolitical ties. A trade deal between India and the US could significantly enhance economic and diplomatic ties. India currently faces a tariff rate of 26% if it is unable to agree on a trade deal with the Trump administration. The US is also India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at $190 billion until recently.

Pakistan

Head on. A major anti-polio vaccination begins today, aiming to immunize over 45 million children under the age of five across the country. The week-long campaign is the second of three major nationwide drives planned for 2025, as we continue efforts to eradicate the virus. On the first day, gunmen attacked a police escort protecting vaccinators in Wana. The police responded, killing one attacker. No health workers were harmed. In response, security has been stepped up while PM Shehbaz Sharif has vowed strict protection for frontline teams as thousands of workers go door to door in the ongoing fight to end polio for good.

Karachi mob lynching. Karachi police have arrested 15 individuals, including a Union Council (UC) chairman, in connection with the brutal mob lynching of Laeeq Ahmad Cheema, a 46-year-old businessman and member of the Ahmadiyya community. The incident took place in the Saddar area on Saturday, when hundreds of supporters of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) attacked a worship hall belonging to the community. 

According to South DIG Syed Asad Raza, the arrests were made using CCTV footage and technical data, and all suspects were physically present at the scene of the crime. DIG Raza revealed that the attackers falsely claimed Cheema was a robber, shouting to onlookers that they had caught a thief and even removing valuables from his pockets to stage the killing as vigilante justice. Investigators now believe that the real motive was to eliminate Cheema because he was the sole eyewitness in a 2023 vandalism case involving the TLP at the same site. 

Quiet Sunday. A province-wide strike shut down most of Sindh (excluding Karachi and parts of Hyderabad) on Sunday due to protests over the federal plan to build six canals from the Indus River to irrigate Punjab’s Cholistan region. Markets, roads, and schools remained closed in cities like Larkana, Sukkur, Nawabshah, and Mirpurkhas. Protests, roadblocks, and student sit-ins were reported across multiple districts.

What Else Is Happening?

📦DHL said it would suspend global business-to-consumer shipments worth over $800 to individuals in the US from April 21, as US customs regulatory changes have lengthened clearance. 

🎬It’s been 20 years since the ‘Pride & Prejudice’ film bewitched audiences. Does it stand the test of time? Find out here.