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Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Cardinals to meet after death of Pope Francis, plan for funeral
Nuns stand in St. Peter's Square, after the death of Pope Francis was announced by the Vatican in a video statement, at the Vatican, April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Yara Nardi Workers arrange printed newspapers with a picture of Pope Francis, following the death of the pontiff, at the Nation Media Group printing press on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya A person leaves a candle in front of a picture of Pope Francis outside the Buenos Aires' Metropolitan Cathedral, following the death of the pontiff, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Martin Cossarini Workers hold up a picture of Pope Francis before a Mass, after his death was announced by the Vatican, at Saint Louis Catholic Church in Bangkok, Thailand, April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha VATICAN CITY - Cardinals were due to meet on Tuesday to plan Pope Francis' funeral, which leaders from around the world will attend ahead of a conclave next month to elect a new head of the Roman Catholic Church. Francis, 88, died unexpectedly on Monday after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest, the Vatican said, ending an often turbulent reign in which he repeatedly clashed with traditionalists and championed the poor and marginalised. The pontiff spent five weeks in hospital earlier this year for double pneumonia. But he returned to his Vatican home almost a month ago and had seemed to be recovering, appearing in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. His sudden death set in motion ancient rituals, as the 1.4-billion-member Church started the transition from one pope to another, including the breaking of the pope's "Fisherman's Ring" and lead seal so they cannot be used by anyone else. "We want to thank the Lord for the gifts he has given to the whole Church with the apostolic ministry of Pope Francis, a pilgrim of hope," said Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, who led prayers in St. Peter's Square on Monday evening. All cardinals currently in Rome have been invited to gather in the Vatican at 9 a.m (0700 GMT), where they were expected to make funeral plans. U.S. President Donald Trump, who clashed repeatedly with the pope about immigration, said he and his wife would fly to Rome for the event. Among other heads of state set to attend were Javier Milei, president of Francis' native Argentina. The Vatican has said it expects the ceremony to take place sometime between Friday and Sunday. In a break from tradition, Francis confirmed in his final testament released on Monday that he wished to be buried in Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major and not St. Peter's Basilica. The gathering of cardinals will also review the day-to-day running of the Church in the period before a new pope is elected. A conclave to choose a new pope normally takes place 15 to 20 days after the death of a pontiff, meaning it should not start before May 6. Some 135 cardinals are eligible to participate in the highly secretive ballot which can stretch over days. At present there is no clear frontrunner to succeed Francis. PROGRESSIVE Pope Francis inherited a Church in disarray and worked hard to overhaul the Vatican's central administration, root out corruption and, after a slow start, confront the scourge of child abuse within the ranks of the priesthood. He often clashed with conservatives, nostalgic for a traditional past, who saw Francis as overly liberal and too accommodating to minority groups, such as the LGBTQ community. Francis appointed nearly 80% of the cardinal electors scattered across the world who will choose the next pope, increasing, but not guaranteeing, the possibility that his successor will continue his progressive policies. Many of the cardinals are little known outside their own countries and they will have a chance to get to know one another at meetings known as General Congregations that take place in the days before a conclave starts and where a profile of the qualities needed for the next pope will take shape. The Vatican said late Monday that staff and officials within the Holy See could immediately start to pay their respects before the pope's body at the Santa Marta residence, where Francis set up home in 2013, shunning the grand, apostolic palace his predecessors had lived in. His body could be moved to St. Peter's Basilica as early as Wednesday morning for the faithful to visit, the Vatican said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Zawya
21-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Uganda Airlines launches direct flights to London
Uganda Airlines will launch direct flights from Entebbe to London Gatwick on May 18, cutting travel time to nine hours and re-establishing a long-lost route. This will be the airline's first European route as it expands beyond Africa, marking a major milestone since British Airways abandoned the route in July 2015, claiming it was not 'commercially viable'. The Ugandan national carrier hopes the flights will boost trade, with faster access to the UK benefitting Ugandan exporters of coffee, tea and fresh produce, while attracting more tourists.'This accessibility is expected to increase tourist arrivals, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to our gross domestic product,' the Transport Minister Katumba Wamala said. Mr Wamala added that they expect lower air fares on the route. 'Where there's no competition, prices soar. Uganda Airlines will moderate the market,' he said. The airline, which was revived five years ago, has focused on African routes but is now expanding globally. London will be its third long-haul destination after Dubai and Mumbai, with plans to add Beijing soon. With 77 weekly departures from Entebbe, Uganda Airlines is the airport's biggest operator. Flights to London will bring the total to 81. Its fleet consists of three Airbus aircraft – A320-200, A330-800 and A320-800 and four CRJ-900s. The airline's CEO, Jennifer Bamuturaki, says the expansion strengthens Uganda's global aviation presence and national development goals.'Because of the potential they unlock, these air bridges are essential planks in the National Development Plan and Uganda's Vision 2040 strategy. Besides shortening travel times for our passengers, this route also provides a more efficient route for exporters of fresh products to the United Kingdom.' © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
20-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tanzania woos foreign investors with new land policy
Tanzania has revised its land policy to provide a safer and more structured route for foreign investors to invest in real estate, while ensuring faster resolution of property disputes. The revised policy also targets investors in the industrial and agricultural sectors, in line with the country's National Development Vision 2050. President Samia Suluhu Hassan launched the revised National Land Policy of 1995 in Dodoma on Monday, stressing that increased land investments would help boost Tanzania's economy. Read: Samia pitches Dar's agricultural potential at US forumThe updated policy aims to resolve disputes arising from outdated or incomplete land registration records, which have led to overlapping projects. Although Tanzania spans 947,303 square kilometres, the government has never fully mapped out the exact size of usable land for real estate, agriculture or industrial investments. What's changing?One of the most significant reforms is the removal of restrictions that previously barred foreigners from purchasing or leasing land for these purposes in urban areas. According to President Hassan, the revised policy—initiated in 2023—creates a harmonised legal framework that will attract foreign investments in housing and business projects by streamlining land leasing and ownership procedures. The previous land policy prohibited foreign investors from real estate ventures in key urban areas, limiting Tanzania's ability to attract investment in low-cost housing projects. The government is also planning a nationwide land mapping exercise to update records, with the last comprehensive map having been created in 1978. President Hassan said that her administration would deploy drones, aircraft and advanced technologies to survey the entire country and produce an up-to-date land map that reflects Tanzania's economic and political landscape. With nearly 70 percent of Tanzania's land currently unregistered, the revised policy prioritises speeding up the land registration process. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Local farmers devastated by total failure of annual crops: 'Threatens this economic foundation'
The changing climate has forced Kenyan farmers to shift gears, devastating a once-thriving industry. Plum orchards have gone belly up in Nyandarua County, and those who depend on the delicious fruit to make a living have turned to other produce, Nation Media Group reported. Plums boosted the local economy by $1.1 million every year from 2018 to 2022, supporting more than 5,000 smallholder farmers and their families. "The current decline threatens this economic foundation while simultaneously depriving communities of a crucial nutritional resource," the outlet stated, noting plums' vitamin A "is critical for young children and breastfeeding mothers." Plums are also full of calcium, potassium, and vitamins C and K. The crops failed because they were inundated with rain — including during dry seasons and by 50% over yearly averages — and cold, Nation reported. Before the collapse, harvests had declined by 20% annually for three years in one area. "Scarcity of this fruit is a threat to human health, it shows how the effects of climate change are affecting health and nutrition," nutritionist Emma Kaberi told Nation. "We hope that other fruits are not as adversely affected by the weather patterns this year." It's affecting the tourism industry as well, with a 40% drop in seasonal bookings during plum harvest periods. "Plums buyers gave us some good business," hotelier Francis Mwaura told Nation. The farmers have no choice but to find alternatives. And while the changing climate — the average yearly temperature in the region has risen 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) over the last 10 years, per Nation — may have taken plums away, it has also given. "New fruit trees that were never grown are now doing well," Leshau Ward agricultural officer Anthony Wangai told Nation. "We have noticed a trend where trees like avocados that prefer hotter areas are now doing very well in Nyandarua, a clear testimony of climate change." Do you worry about the quality of the air inside your home? Yes — often Yes — but only sometimes Only when it's bad outside No — I never do Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Pear, cherry, and apple trees are also at risk, though apple farming is offering a path forward, too. The county is diversifying, and apples are resilient and backed by research. Each tree could also increase a farmer's revenue by 40%, according to Nation. The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service ensures seedlings are climate-appropriate, and the researchers turn the farmers on to new technologies. "With ongoing research work on apples, the grafted varieties will beat the vagaries of weather," Wangai told Nation. "That way, chances of massive crop failure due to climate change-related factors are minimal." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
