Here are the Top News Headlines for today:
- Vatican Mourns Pope Francis: The global Catholic community continues a nine-day mourning period following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, at age 88 due to a stroke and heart failure. Cardinals are meeting to plan his funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica, with pilgrims expressing shock and grief.
- U.S.-China Tariff Escalations: Trade tensions intensify as China raises duties on U.S. imports to 125% in response to U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, including a 125% reciprocal tariff and additional levies. The airfreight industry faces potential $22 billion losses due to these policies, impacting global markets.
- JD Vance’s India Visit: U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on April 21, 2025, to discuss trade and bilateral cooperation, laying the groundwork for future talks.
- Earth Day 2025: Marking its 56th anniversary, Earth Day focuses on environmental conservation and sustainability, with global calls to address deforestation, over-industrialization, and climate change.
- Ukraine Conflict Developments: Discussions around a potential Easter ceasefire in Ukraine remain uncertain, with no concrete resolution reported.
- Gold Prices Hit Record $3,500: Gold surged to a new all-time high near $3,500 per ounce overnight on April 21, 2025, driven by concerns over U.S. economic stability and President Trump’s challenges to Federal Reserve independence, including calls to sack Chair Jerome Powell and cut rates. This marks a 7.7% gain in the last week alone, fueled by safe-haven demand amid U.S.-China trade tensions and a weakening dollar.
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