Pope Francis, at the age of 88, passed away at 7:35 am, as announced by the Vatican. Cardinal Kevin Farrell confirmed his passing, noting his dedication to the Church and its vulnerable members. The College of Cardinals, consisting of 115 eligible members, will convene in Rome for a secret conclave to elect his successor, following centuries-old traditions.
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The Supreme Court ruled that holding an undertrial prisoner for six to seven years without a verdict violates their fundamental right to a speedy trial. This decision followed the case of an accused held under UAPA for five years without conclusion, leading to his release on bail.
Congress MP Manish Tewari criticized the budget as an annual accounting exercise and suggested submitting income and expenditure statements in Parliament. Manickam Tagore called for policy changes, pointing out that the wealthy are getting richer while the middle class is suffering. The Economic Survey projects India's economic growth between 6.3% and 6.8% for 2025-26.
Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL’s third-most successful franchise, have undergone several leadership changes since 2008. With iconic leaders like Sourav Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir, and Shreyas Iyer, KKR secured three IPL titles. Recently, Ajinkya Rahane has been appointed captain, with Venkatesh Iyer as vice-captain, aiming for continued success in the 2025 season.
In 2024, BJP faced tough competition in Lok Sabha elections, forming a government with NDA partners. BJP secured major wins in Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections. Regional parties challenged national dominance. Narendra Modi became Prime Minister for the third term. The INDIA bloc showed internal cracks. Exit polls lost credibility due to incorrect predictions.
Quinnipiac University's poll says Trump has a 42 per cent approval rating compared to a 53 per cent disapproval rating. The poll was taken from March 6-11, among 1,198 "self-identified registered voters." It has a margin of error of 2.8 per cent. A month before, Trump's disapproval rating was 49 per cent and approval rating was 45 per cent.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah detailed the measures taken by his ministry in handling extremist Amritpal Singh in Punjab, stating he is now reciting Guru Granth Sahib in Assam jail. Singh, the leader of 'Waris Punjab De', faced multiple charges, including plotting against India with ISI's support. His detention under the National Security Act was extended until 2025.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the NEET UG 2025 city intimation slip on April 23, ahead of the May 4 exam. Over 23 lakh candidates can now check their allotted exam city at neet.nta.nic.in. The official admit card will be available by May 1. The offline exam will run from 2 PM to 5 PM in 566 cities. Candidates must carry valid ID and follow guidelines strictly. Results are expected by June 14, 2025.
South Korea's suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, allegedly authorised the military to use force to enter parliament during his failed attempt to declare martial law, according to a prosecutors' report. The report details alarming orders to break into the National Assembly. According to the document, Yoon expressed willingness to declare martial law multiple times.
Anaya Bangar, daughter of Sanjay Bangar, revealed facing harassment within the cricket world after her gender-affirming surgery. She received nude photos from cricketers and faced verbal abuse, including a proposition from a former player. Anaya has represented Islam Gymkhana in Mumbai’s club circuit and also played for Hinckley Cricket Club in Leicestershire, UK.
Canada plans to overhaul its Express Entry immigration system by eliminating points for job offers backed by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to combat fraud. This change could significantly impact Indian applicants, who constitute a large portion of successful candidates.