Firstup: JD Vance in Italy, Luigi Mangione in court, US-Japan to hold joint patrols… the headlines today

It’s going to be a busy Friday.

US Vice President JD Vance is in Italy where he will meet Prime Minister Georgia Meloni.

Meanwhile, Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing a healthcare CEO, is set to appear in federal court.

Japanese and the US are set to conduct joint patrols after a spate of sexual assaults cases in Okinawa.

Meanwhile, the Vatican is set to hold Good Friday mass even as Pope Francis remains out of public view.

And Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is set to begin his European tour with the aim of attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Let’s take a closer look at today’s big-ticket items:

Vance in Italy

Vance will travel to Italy today – a visit that comes on the heels of Meloni’s visit to the White House on Thursday.

The trip comes as Vance has taken on a prime role in the White House’s engagements abroad.

The Republican vice president and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, travelled to Greenland last month, and he went to Paris and Munich in February.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, will also meet with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

The US Vice President is expected to participate in ceremonies around Easter Sunday.

Luigi in court

Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, will be in federal court today.

The 26-year-old Maryland man has become the object of fascination for many on social media.

However, according to People.com, Mangione’s admirers will not get a glimpse of him.

This is because videos and photography is prohibited in federal court.

As per The Independent, Mangione’s legal defence fund has raised over $912,000.

Mangione in a public statement said, “I am overwhelmed by – and grateful for – everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support. Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe.”

“While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive. Thank you again to everyone who took the time to write. I look forward to hearing more in the future.”

The US government has announced that it will seek the death penalty against Mangione.

Mangione’s lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo has called the decision to seek the death penalty “barbaric.”

“While claiming to protect against murder, the federal government moves to commit the pre-meditated, state-sponsored murder of Luigi,” Friedman Agnifilo said.

Mangione, 26, has pleaded not guilty to New York state charges of murder as an act of terrorism and weapons offenses.

He could face life in prison without parole if convicted in that case. New York does not have the death penalty for state charges.

Mangione faces a parallel federal indictment in Manhattan federal court over Thompson’s killing, which is where Bondi said prosecutors will aim for the death penalty. He has not yet been asked to enter a plea to the federal charges.

US-Japan joint patrols

The US and Japan are set to hold joint patrols in Okinawa.

As per The Times of India, this is the first such joint patrol in Okinawa since the 1970s.

The development comes amid a rash of sexual assault cases involving the US military in Japan.

The US has around 54,000 troops stationed in Japan – a majority of which are in Okinawa.

“This joint patrol reflects our continued commitment to partnership, accountability, and mutual respect,” said lieutenant general Roger Turner, commander of the III Marine expeditionary force and the okinawa area coordinator. “By working side-by-side with our Japanese counterparts, we are reinforcing shared standards and contributing to the safety and trust that are essential to the strength of the US-Japan alliance.”

Vatican to hold Good Friday mass

The Vatican is set to hold Good Friday mass today – the the day Christians mark Jesus’ crucifixion.

As per Catholic News Agency, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, will lead the Passion service in the Vatican basilica on the afternoon of Good Friday.

Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar general of Rome, will preside over the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum with meditations written by Francis.

The development comes as Francis remains out of public view after surviving double pneumonia.

Doctors have prescribed the 88-year-old pontiff two months of rest to allow his ageing body to fully heal.

The pope made a surprise appearance in St Peter’s Square during Palm Sunday Mass on April 13.

Francis skipped the Good Friday events in 2023 and 2024 due to prior health issues.

Hemant Soren in Europe

As per The Times of India, Chief Minister Hemant Soren is set to lead a delegation from Jharkhand to Sweden and Spain.

Soren will be accompanied by his wife Kalpana, the Chief Secretary and secretaries of a few departments.

The delegation will be in Europe till April 27.

The idea behind the trip is to bring FDI to Jharkhand in the sectors of mining, steel, and electric vehicles, as well as identifying partnerships in green technology.

This is Soren’s first trip abroad since returning to office in November.

The delegation will visit Madrid, Barcelona, and Gothenburg.

Soren will have one-on-one meetings with prospective investors and business leaders.

With inputs from agencies