WORLD

NEW YORK, the United States | Xinhua | World-renowned philanthropist Bill Gates announced Thursday that he will give away virtually all of his wealth to the Gates Foundation. “There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people. That …

Vatican, Rome | VATICAN NEWS | Black smoke rose from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 11:50 on Thursday morning, signalling the second ballot of the first full day of the conclave – and the third ballot overall – was inconclusive. As the cardinals break for lunch, the people …

HANGZHOU | Xinhua | In a compact shop no larger than 10 square meters, Tao Yang, a vendor in Yiwu — a city in Zhejiang Province known as “the world’s supermarket” — keeps a well-used World Atlas on her desk. “I ask my customers to sign their names over their …

Vatican, Rome | VATICAN NEWS | The first act of the new Pope, immediately after accepting his canonical election as Supreme Pontiff and before fulfilling other obligations, is the choice of his name. This name is announced by the Cardinal Protodeacon after the famous formula “Habemus Papam”, followed by the …

  Black smoke has emerged at the Vatican, indicating no Pope has been elected. Vatican, Rome | THE INDEPENDENT |  Black smoke signaled the end of the first day of the conclave at 21:00 local time, hours after the doors of the Sistine Chapel were closed with the words, “Extra omnes” …

KAMPALA, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | The 133 Cardinals who will elect Pope Francis’ successor have made their way from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City as the secretive process begins. Today’s events began with the “Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice” mass at 10 am, which means …

ROME, ITALY | THE INDEPENDENT | As the Catholic Church prepares to elect a new pontiff following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, 17 African cardinal electors are among those taking part in the Conclave that officially begins this afternoon at the Vatican. A solemn Holy Mass, Pro Eligendo …

BEIJING | Xinhua |  At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia from Wednesday to Saturday and attend in Moscow the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War. More than 80 …

Vatican, Rome | THE INDEPENDENT | Today, 133 cardinal electors are set to enter the Conclave at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City to elect a new Pope following the death of Pope Francis. According to the programme from the Vatican, the cardinal electors will begin the day at St. Peter’s …

CAIRO, EGYPT | Xinhua | Since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January, the Middle East has seen conflicts intensifying and civilian suffering mounting under U.S. involvement. Regional analysts said that the U.S. government’s disregard for sovereignty and human rights in the Middle East has not only jeopardized local …