President Murmu in Rome to attend Pope Francis' funeral
Francis, who was the first non-European Pope in nearly 1,300 years, died on Monday. He was 88.
His funeral will be held on Saturday.
President Murmu is accompanied by Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju; Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, George Kurian; and Deputy Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, Joshua De Souza.
'President Droupadi Murmu arrives in Rome to attend the funeral Mass of His Holiness Pope Francis,' the President's office said in a post on X.
Ms. Murmu is on a two-day visit to the Vatican City and will offer condolences on behalf of the government and people of India.
'On April 26, the President will attend the funeral Mass of His Holiness Pope Francis at St Peter's Square in Vatican City, which will be attended by dignitaries from around the world,' the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said in a statement.
India had declared a three-day state mourning on the passing of Pope Francis.
Media reports quoted the Vatican as saying that about 130 delegations are confirmed for Francis' funeral. These include 50 heads of state and 10 reigning sovereigns.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
4 minutes ago
- Economic Times
India, US trade deal may backfire on EU exports if India opens door to GM feed: GTRI
GTRI cautions that allowing US GM farm products under a trade pact could harm India's agri exports to the EU due to strict GM labeling and consumer resistance. Cross-contamination risks from India's weak agri-logistics could lead to shipment rejections and damage India's GMO-free image. Currently, India only allows Bt cotton cultivation and imports of GM soybean and canola oil. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Also Read: India and Trump are haggling over the same constituency Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads India risks losing its export competitiveness in the European market if it allows genetically modified (GM) animal feed imports from the United States under the upcoming trade deal, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative ( GTRI ). The economic think tank issued a cautionary statement on Saturday, highlighting the impact such a move could have on India's agricultural shipments to key markets like the European Union (EU), known for its strict stance on genetically modified and the US are currently negotiating an interim trade pact, which is expected to be announced before July 9. Among the proposals being considered is the import of GM-derived products such as soybean meal and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a by-product made during ethanol production, usually from corn or other grains, for use in animal founder Ajay Srivastava said the consequences of such imports could be severe for India's agri-export sector, especially when it comes to European buyers who maintain strong resistance to GM-linked products. While GM feed is technically permitted in the EU, many European consumers prefer fully GM-free supply chains, and the region enforces stringent GM labelling warned that India's fragmented agricultural logistics network and absence of proper segregation systems increase the risk of cross-contamination. This could lead to trace GM presence in export consignments, potentially triggering shipment rejections and additional testing expenses. More importantly, it could damage India's image as a GMO-free supplier in sensitive segments such as rice, tea, honey, spices, and organic foods."This could lead to shipment rejections, higher testing costs, and erosion of India's GMO-free image, especially in sensitive sectors like rice, tea, honey, spices, and organic foods. Without robust traceability and labeling systems, GM feed imports could hurt India's export competitiveness in the EU," Srivastava described genetically modified crops as plants that have been engineered by introducing specific genes—often from bacteria, viruses, other plants, or in some cases, animals—into their DNA to give them traits such as pest resistance or tolerance to herbicides. For example, the BT gene from the bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis allows the plant to produce a protein toxic to specific insects. Genes from soil bacteria have also been used to help plants survive clarified that although GM crops are biologically plant-based and considered vegetarian, the presence of animal-origin genes in some crops might pose issues for communities or individuals with strict religious or ethical interpretations of added that studies suggest GM DNA breaks down during digestion and does not enter the animal's meat, milk, or other produce. "Therefore, foods like milk or chicken are not classified as GM, even if the animals were fed GM feed. However, critics argue that this blurs the line for consumers who wish to avoid GM-associated products entirely," he whether farmers can reuse seeds from genetically modified crops, Srivastava said GM seeds are usually not reusable for both legal and biological reasons. They are often patented and sold with contracts that forbid saving and replanting. Additionally, many GM crops are hybrids, and seeds collected from them generally perform poorly when reused. He pointed out that in India, Bt cotton is the only GM crop officially approved for cultivation. Though some farmers have attempted to reuse Bt cotton seeds, the results have typically been said contamination risks persist globally, as GM and non-GM crops can mix at various stages including transport, storage, and to GTRI, India maintains a cautious stance on GM crops. Currently, only Bt cotton is approved for cultivation, and no GM food crop has received commercial approval, though field trials are ongoing. The country allows imports of genetically modified soybean oil and canola oil, but does not permit imports of GM grains, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, or other food and feed feed materials like soybean meal and DDGS remain banned, Srivastava said.(with PTI inputs)
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
6 minutes ago
- First Post
China's big fear: US may target it if Russia loses Ukraine war
The candid admission came from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi while talking to European leaders read more Beijing fears that if Russia loses in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, the US would shift its entire focus to tackling China. The candid admission came from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi while talking to European leaders, something that really surprised officials in Brussels, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP). Wang's comments came during talks with EU's de facto foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas. When Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning was asked about Wang's comments, she simply evaded the question. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During a four-hour debate covering a broad spectrum of issues, Wang Yi reportedly dismissed claims that China is materially fuelling Russia's war effort. He argued that if Beijing were truly providing such support, the conflict would have ended by now, according to sources cited by the Post. Some interpret Wang's Brussels remarks as suggesting that, while China didn't start the war, its continuation could align with Beijing's strategic interests by keeping Washington preoccupied with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly accused China of arming Russia, claiming on May 29 that Beijing halted drone sales to Ukraine and Western nations while continuing to supply Moscow. Wang's rebuttal comes at a time when US support for Kyiv, its primary military backer, is faltering. On July 1, the US Defence Department halted deliveries of critical weapons to Ukraine, including Patriot air defence missiles and precision-guided munitions. Meanwhile, ties between Moscow and Beijing are deepening. Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in China in September for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, signalling a strengthening of their strategic partnership. Earlier on Wednesday, Wang Yi held meetings with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. According to EU sources, the two presidents were fully aligned with each other and Kallas on all key issues discussed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Business Standard
40 minutes ago
- Business Standard
India prioritises national interest in trade deals, says Piyush Goyal
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has clarified that India approaches trade agreements strictly on its own terms, with no pressure to adhere to fixed timelines. Speaking to the media in New Delhi about the ongoing discussions for a potential trade deal with the United States, the minister emphasised that India only enters into such agreements when they are mutually beneficial and fully aligned with national reiterated that free trade agreements are not dictated by urgency or external expectations but are pursued only when they are fully matured. Goyal further added that negotiations are currently underway with several countries, including the United States, members of the European bloc, and New Zealand, and that India remains firm on securing outcomes that safeguard its economic by Capital Market - Live News
