VATICAN: Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff, who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, died today. He was 88.

“At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his church,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, who takes charge after a pontiff’s death.

PAKISTAN: A week-long second nationwide vaccination campaign began today, aimed at protecting 45 million children from polio, officials said.

According to the World Health Organisation, Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan remain the only two countries where the potentially fatal paralysing virus has not been stopped.

LEBANON: Authorities have detained several people who were allegedly planning to fire rockets into Israel and seized the weapons.

The army said on Sunday that the arrests were linked to other detentions announced earlier last week. As military intelligence was investigating that case, they received information that a new rocket attack was being planned, the army added.

INDIA: US Vice-President JD Vance arrived in India today for a four-day visit as New Delhi seeks to avoid US tariffs, negotiate a bilateral trade deal with Washington and strengthen ties with the Trump administration.

Mr Vance was due to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the first day of his largely personal trip. The two leaders are expected to hold discussions on bilateral ties outlined in February, when Mr Modi met President Donald Trump in Washington.