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Styles wasn’t just in the Vatican for the spectacle of the conclave
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Harry Styles at Pope Leo XIV's papal conclave surprises fans
May 09, 2025
Harry Styles, the Grammy-winning musician, was spotted at the Vatican during the election of Pope Leo XIV, making an unexpected appearance at one of the most significant events in the Catholic Church.
Styles, 31, was in the crowd in Saint Peter's Square on Thursday, 8 May 2025, as the papal conclave elected Pope Leo XIV as the successor to the late Pope Francis, who passed away in April at the age of 88. The sight of the British singer among the spectators quickly went viral on social media, with fans expressing their surprise and amusement at his presence.
The former One Direction member was dressed casually, wearing a blue jacket, sunglasses, and a grey baseball cap that read “Techno is My Boyfriend.” The cap, which had been sold by IDEA, is now sold out following its appearance at the Vatican. One fan shared an image of Pope Leo XIV, commenting, "Little did the pope know he was waving to Harry Styles," while another fan remarked, "One thing about Harry Styles, he’s always going to accidentally serve cinema somewhere in Europe."
This spontaneous appearance in the Vatican is just the latest in a series of global adventures for Styles. Following the conclusion of his record-breaking "Love On Tour" in 2023, which featured a 15-show residency at Madison Square Garden and a sold-out performance at Slane Castle in Ireland, Styles has continued to explore new experiences around the world. In March 2025, he participated in the Tokyo Marathon, where he finished with a sub-3:30 time, outrunning more than 20,000 participants.
Styles’ international travel also included a memorable moment when a ride-share driver, known as Pink London Taxi on Instagram, shared their encounter with the singer. The driver, who picked up Styles during a late-night shift, later posted about the encounter, captioning it, “Picked up this young fella on my way home tonight. We got chatting and I said, ‘You really sound like Harry Styles.’ He said, ‘That’s because I am Harry Styles!’”
More recently, in April 2025, Styles made an appearance at a London run club, wearing jeans and loafers. His diverse activities have sparked widespread interest, with fans excited to see where his next adventure will take him.
However, Styles wasn’t just in the Vatican for the spectacle of the conclave. Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected pope, made history as the first American pontiff in the Catholic Church’s long history. Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, the 69-year-old pope was educated at Villanova University and is a member of the Augustinian Order. The Order, founded in Italy in 1244, has long been dedicated to aiding the poor and has historically served as missionaries throughout the world.
With his ascension to the papacy, Pope Leo XIV becomes a key figure in the future of the Catholic Church, and the Vatican's papal conclave remains a focal point of global interest. For Harry Styles, the event was another of his many unique experiences, blending his fame with a surprising involvement in one of the world’s most ancient traditions.
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The decision to halt the T20 tournament came after Thursday's match in Dharamsala was abandoned. (Photo: Getty Images)
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India suspends IPL over border tensions with Pakistan
May 09, 2025
THE Indian Premier League has been suspended indefinitely due to escalating border tensions between India and Pakistan, according to Indian media reports on Friday.
The decision to halt the T20 tournament came after Thursday's match in Dharamsala was abandoned. The city is located less than 200 kilometres from Jammu, where explosions were reported earlier in the day.
Chennai Super Kings posted on X: "Courage in every step. Pride in every heartbeat. Saluting our armed forces!" The post included a photo of the armed forces with the message: "Nation first. Everything else can wait."
The IPL, which started on March 22, features 10 teams and includes several international players. Lucknow Super Giants were scheduled to play Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday.
ALSO READ: India says it repelled Pakistan drone, artillery attacks as tensions continue
The final was set to take place on May 25 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Australian players in the tournament include Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, and Mitch Marsh. Former captain Ricky Ponting is coaching Punjab.
Before news of the suspension, Cricket Australia said in a statement on Friday: "We continue to closely monitor the situation in Pakistan and India... and maintaining communication with our players and support staff currently in the region."
Pakistan had already moved the remaining matches of its T20 league to the United Arab Emirates due to concerns over player safety.
"Pakistan Cricket Board confirms that the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League has been shifted to the UAE," read a PCB statement, which added that the schedule would be updated in due course.
The decision was reached after several meetings between the franchise and the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the country's interior minister.
On Wednesday morning, India launched missile strikes in response to a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir two weeks earlier, which it attributed to Pakistan.
Pakistan has denied any involvement.
At least 48 people have been killed on both sides of the border since Wednesday, in what is being described as the worst cross-border violence in decades.
(With inputs from AFP)
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A view of shops that is damaged due to cross-border shelling between India and Pakistan on the Line of Control in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, on May 9, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
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India says it repelled Pakistan drone, artillery attacks as tensions continue
May 09, 2025
INDIA said on Friday (9) it repelled multiple drone and artillery attacks launched by Pakistan overnight, as tensions continued following deadly cross-border violence this week. Islamabad denied launching any attacks, while both sides reported new casualties and damage.
"Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May," the Indian army said in a statement. "The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given."
India said earlier that Pakistani forces targeted three of its military stations — two in Kashmir and one in Punjab — but Pakistan denied this. "Pakistan has not targeted any locations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, or across international border, so far," Pakistan's information minister Ataullah Tarar said late Thursday.
ALSO READ: India-Pakistan conflict: British parliament appeals for de-escalation
The escalation began after India carried out air strikes on Wednesday targeting what it described as "terrorist camps" in Pakistan. New Delhi said the action followed an attack on 22 April near Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people, most of them Hindu tourists. India has blamed the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist organisation, for the attack. Pakistan has denied involvement and called for an independent investigation.
In Indian-administered Kashmir, a police official reported that one woman was killed and two men were wounded in heavy shelling in Uri, about 100 kilometres from Srinagar.
Nearly 50 people have died on both sides since the Indian air strikes on Wednesday, according to officials. Most casualties have been reported in Pakistan, where at least 32 people, including 12 children, have been killed.
ALSO READ: UK says ready to help India and Pakistan de-escalate tensions
Islamabad said on Thursday that its forces had shot down 29 Israeli-made Harop drones during attacks on cities including Rawalpindi. The city hosts Pakistan’s military headquarters and was also hosting a Pakistan Super League cricket match. The remaining matches of the tournament have now been moved to the United Arab Emirates.
India has closed 24 airports to civilian flights, including in cities such as Jodhpur, Ludhiana and Amritsar. Airlines including Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet have cancelled over 100 flights since Wednesday. Passengers have been advised to arrive at least three hours before departure due to enhanced security. Local media reports suggest that flight operations may resume by Saturday morning.
Schools remained closed on Friday in parts of Kashmir, six border districts in Punjab, the city of Chandigarh, and parts of Rajasthan.
ALSO READ: What is Operation Sindoor, India's strikes in Pakistan?
A senior Indian cricket official said the board would decide on Friday whether to continue the rest of the IPL season. A match in Dharamsala, around 200 kilometres from Jammu where explosions had been reported earlier, was abandoned late Thursday following a floodlight failure.
India has also directed social media platform X to block more than 8,000 accounts. The company said it was reluctantly complying with what it called "government-imposed censorship". The move appears to be part of a crackdown on Pakistani political figures, media, and celebrities on social media.
International leaders have urged restraint. US secretary of state Marco Rubio spoke with leaders in both countries on Thursday and called for "immediate de-escalation". US vice president JD Vance echoed the appeal, stating Washington would not intervene in what he called a conflict "that’s fundamentally none of our business".
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi met with Indian external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi on Thursday, days after visiting Pakistan.
Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a televised address on Wednesday that his country would "avenge" those killed by Indian air strikes. Amnesty International called on both sides to "take all necessary measures to protect civilians and minimise any suffering and casualties."
(With inputs from agencies)
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Participants during Ugadi 2025 celebrations
Kannada Balaga UK celebrates Ugadi in Sheffield
May 08, 2025
A traditional Indian New Year celebration brought hundreds of UK-based Kannadigas together last weekend as Kannada Balaga UK marked Ugadi 2025 with a day-long cultural festival.
The charity, registered in the UK since 1983, held its annual Ugadi celebration last Saturday (3) at Sheffield's historic Cutlers Hall.
Ugadi, also known as Yugadi in some regions, is the New Year festival celebrated by the people of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka states in southern India.
The Yorkshire chapter of the organisation hosted the event, which drew around 400 attendees dressed in traditional attire.
The celebration began with a Ganesha Stotra (prayer) and ceremonial lighting of candles. Chief guests included actress Sudharani, singer Ajay Warrier and director Sudesh Rao, who each delivered brief speeches during the opening ceremony.
"Throughout the day, local community members performed a variety of cultural programmes including dances and songs in the Kannada language. Attendees enjoyed a South Indian lunch featuring obbattu, a traditional sweet dish," said Dr Praveen Thyarappa, Sheffield, a member of the executive committee of the charity.
Anivaasi, the literary wing of Kannada Balaga, organised a symposium on the contributions of Kannada philosophers, writers and social reformers from the 12th to 19th centuries.
The evening programme featured two main highlights: the premiere screening of a short thriller film titled Ghost, D Devva and a two-hour musical concert by Ajay Warrier. The film captivated the audience while sparking discussions about the nature of mental perception.
"The full-day event concluded with a dance-drama performed by the YSKB team, rounding off a celebration that showcased both the cultural heritage and creative talents of the UK's Kannada community," Dr Thyarappa added.
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Newly-elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, on May 8. (Photo: Getty Images)
Robert Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV, first American to lead Catholic Church
May 08, 2025
WHITE SMOKE rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signalling that cardinals have elected a new leader for the Catholic Church. US Cardinal Robert Prevost was chosen in a surprise decision and has taken the name Leo XIV, becoming the first American pope.
Thousands gathered in St Peter's Square cheered as the smoke appeared and bells rang, confirming the Church has chosen its 267th pope. Pope Leo appeared on the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica around 70 minutes later, making his first public appearance.
French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti made the announcement with the Latin words "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope") before introducing Pope Leo to the public.
Aged 69 and originally from Chicago, Leo XIV spent most of his clerical life as a missionary in Peru. He was appointed cardinal only in 2023. He has made few public statements and rarely speaks to the media.
He succeeds Pope Francis, who died last month after serving 12 years as the first Latin American pope. Francis focused on reform and openness, encouraging debate on topics such as women’s ordination and inclusion of LGBT Catholics.
The new pope will be introduced in Latin, followed by his first address and papal blessing. He is expected to take on significant challenges, including global conflicts, fallout from the Church’s sexual abuse crisis, and Vatican financial issues.
Voting process and background
A total of 133 cardinal electors from five continents began voting on Wednesday afternoon in the largest conclave ever held. Their only means of communicating progress was through smoke signals from the Sistine Chapel — black for no decision, white for a successful election.
Two rounds of black smoke were seen before white smoke emerged around 6pm (1600 GMT) on Thursday.
Following tradition, the newly elected pope entered the Room of Tears to prepare, then returned to the Sistine Chapel for the cardinals’ pledge of obedience. He then stepped onto the balcony for the official announcement and delivered his first “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”) blessing.
Debates over Church direction
Ahead of the conclave, cardinals were divided between those seeking continuity with Pope Francis’s reformist approach and others who wanted to return to traditional practices. Francis appointed 80 percent of the voting cardinals, but that did not guarantee a like-minded successor.
The conclave was the most international to date, with cardinals from 70 countries. Before voting began, Dean Giovanni Battista Re urged the electors to choose someone who could maintain unity and guide the Church through a complex historical moment.
The Church continues to face declining priest numbers and falling attendance in the West.
The papal inauguration typically occurs within a week of the election. It includes a mass attended by political and religious leaders from around the world. Pope Leo is expected to tour St Peter’s Square in the popemobile and deliver a homily outlining his plans.
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