On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis died at the age of 88. According to canon law, a conclave to elect a new pontiff must be held within 15-20 days after the onset of the period of sede vacante (vacant throne). Thus, the election of the new Pope will take place between May 6 and 11, 2025, in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican.
Currently, experts name several main contenders for the papal throne. Among the most likely candidates for the post of Pope are the following cardinals:
Pietro Parolin (Italy, 70 years old) – Vatican Secretary of State, diplomat and one of Pope Francis’ closest associates.
Matteo Zuppi (Italy, 69) – Archbishop of Bologna, a representative of the progressive wing, known for his participation in peacekeeping initiatives.
Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines, 67) – Former Archbishop of Manila, prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, may become the first pope from Asia.
Peter Erdő (Hungary, 72) – Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, theologian, authority in interreligious dialogue.
Peter Turkson (Ghana, 76) – Emphasizes social justice, one of the leading cardinals in Africa.
Robert Sarah (Guinea, 79) – Conservative cardinal, former head of the Congregation for Divine Worship.
The election of the new pope is held in a closed meeting, the Conclave, which is attended by all cardinals under the age of 80 (in 2025, there are about 120 of them). Each of them is obliged to participate, except in cases of illness or special circumstances.
The procedure includes the following stages:
The conclave takes place in isolation in the Sistine Chapel.
Cardinals vote anonymously. A qualified majority of two-thirds of the votes is required for election.
Voting is held up to four times a day (twice in the morning and evening).
At the end of each round, ballots are burned: black smoke means the pope has not been elected, white smoke means the election has taken place.
The elected cardinal, having made his decision, says: “Accepto” – I accept. Then he chooses the papal name.
The world learns the result through a historical formula: Habemus Papam – “We have a pope!”
In January-March 2025, the international financial service NovaPay (TM NovaPay) increased the number of transfers by 10% compared to the same period in 2024 – up to 106 million, its press service reported.
According to the press service of NovaPay on Tuesday, budget payments during this period increased by 23% to UAH 408 million.
In January-March 2025, transactions worth almost UAH 83 billion were processed through the system, which is 25% more than last year.
“We are developing existing products and introducing new ones, serving customers and increasing business volumes. This allows us to continue to support the country’s economy, fulfilling our obligations to the state and ensuring the stability of the financial system,” the press service quoted NovaPay CEO Andriy Krivoshapko as saying.
According to him, the total investment in the victory amounted to UAH 138.1 million.
NovaPay is an international financial service that is part of the NOVA group of companies (Nova Poshta). It provides online and offline payment services at more than 3,600 Nova Poshta outlets.
Germany topped the list of leading beer exporters to China in the first quarter of this year (by $23.258 million), according to the State Customs Administration (SCA) of the PRC.
It was followed by the Netherlands (by $11.799 million), Belgium (by $11.239 million), and Spain (by $10.028 million). Among Asian countries, Japan supplied the most beer to China – by $5.276 million.
In total, in January-March 2025, China imported beer from 52 countries and exported it to 89.
“Kernel, one of the largest Ukrainian agro-industrial groups, processed 845 thsd tonnes of oilseeds in the third quarter (January-March) of the financial year (FY) 2024/25, up 3% y-o-y, but down 9% q-o-q, according to the agroholding’s report.
According to the report, in January-March 2025, Kernel processed 694 thousand tons of sunflower seeds and, due to the lack of raw materials in the domestic market of Ukraine, also processed 151 thousand tons of soybeans at three plants. In addition, the agroholding processed 50 thou tons of sunflower seeds under tolling agreements with third parties.
As a result of processing of both sunflower seeds and soybeans in the third quarter of 2024/25, the agricultural holding’s edible oil sales fell by 9% year-on-year to 347 thsd tonnes. At the same time, sales of edible oil in the first nine months of FY2025 amounted to 1 mln tons, which is 6% less than in the same period last year.
The report also notes that grain supplies to the agricultural holding’s elevators decreased by 2% to 2.7 million tons in the first nine months of FY2025.
“In the third quarter of FY 2024/25, Kernel reduced grain exports by 15% to 1.6 mln tonnes compared to the same period last year, which it explained by the decline in the harvest in Ukraine. In total, Kernel exported 4.4 mln tons of grains and oilseeds in the first nine months of the year, accounting for 12% of the national exports.
Transshipment through the agricultural holding’s export terminals reached 2.5 million tons in the third quarter, up 2% year-on-year. This volume included 1.8 mln tons of grains, 0.3 mln tons of edible oil, and the rest was made up of oilseeds.
In total, for the first nine months, the transshipment volume amounted to 7.3 mln tons, up 65% year-on-year, due to the low comparison base in FY 2024/25 due to the closure of the Black Sea ports at the beginning of the season, the agricultural holding summarized.
Kernel is the world’s largest exporter of sunflower oil, one of the largest producers and sellers of bottled oil in Ukraine. In addition, it is engaged in the cultivation and sale of agricultural products.
In the first nine months of 2024, the agricultural holding reduced its net profit by 53% to $204 million, while its revenue decreased by 4% to $2.595 billion, and its EBITDA decreased by 36% to $384 million.
Ukraine has exported 34.451 mln tonnes of grains and pulses since the beginning of the 2024-2025 marketing year (July-June), of which 1.627 mln tonnes have been shipped since the beginning of the month, the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food reported, citing the State Customs Service.
According to the report, as of April 25 last year, the total shipments amounted to 40.289 million tons.
At the same time, since the beginning of the current season, Ukraine has exported 13.623 mln tonnes of wheat (15.404 mln tonnes in 2023/24 MY), 2.247 mln tonnes of barley (2.178 mln tonnes), 10.8 thsd tonnes of rye (1.2 thsd tonnes), and 18.067 mln tonnes of corn (22.231 mln tonnes).
The total export of Ukrainian flour since the beginning of the season as of April 21 is estimated at 57 thsd tonnes (in 2023/24 MY – 85.7 thsd tonnes), including wheat – 52.9 thsd tonnes (81 thsd tonnes).
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has received another delivery of equipment from the IT Coalition, funded by Luxembourg and Iceland, worth about EUR 2 million, the Defense Ministry’s press service reports.
“I am grateful to the countries of the IT Coalition for strengthening the technological resilience of our army. With this equipment, we will increase the capacity for high-quality and reliable communication in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which is very important on the front line,” said Kateryna Chernogorenko, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for Digitalization.
It is reported that the partners handed over 3,288 access points of various models; 500 routers; 460 charging stations with solar panels; 872 phones to the Ministry of Defense.
As reported, this is the third delivery from the IT coalition in 2025. In January of this year, Estonia, the Netherlands and Luxembourg transferred equipment worth EUR 3.3 million to Ukraine as part of the initiative, and in February – for EUR 7.5 million.
The IT Coalition is one of the capability coalitions within the framework of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine (Ramstein format). It supports the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense in the areas of IT, communications and cybersecurity. Currently, the coalition includes Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. The coalition is led by Estonia and Luxembourg.
