Global logistics leader DHL has announced a temporary suspension of business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments to the United States for packages valued over $800. This decision, effective from April 21, 2025, comes in response to recent changes in U.S. customs regulations that have significantly increased the complexity and processing time for higher-value imports.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently lowered the threshold for mandatory formal entry processing from $2,500 to $800, effective April 5. This change requires more detailed documentation for shipments exceeding the new threshold, leading to substantial delays and increased workload for customs clearance processes. DHL cited these challenges as the primary reason for the suspension, stating that the surge in formal customs clearances has overwhelmed their systems, causing multi-day transit delays for affected shipments .

While B2C shipments over $800 are suspended, business-to-business (B2B) shipments of similar value will continue, albeit with potential delays due to the heightened scrutiny and paperwork requirements. Shipments valued under $800 remain unaffected by this suspension.

The suspension has sent ripples through international markets, particularly affecting exporters who rely heavily on U.S. consumers. British luxury brands, for instance, have expressed significant concern. Companies like Joseph Cheaney & Sons and Sabina Savage, which derive a substantial portion of their sales from the U.S., are facing logistical nightmares. Sabina Savage noted that 90% of her customers are based in the U.S., and the suspension has led to additional costs and challenges in fulfilling orders .

Trade bodies have also voiced their apprehensions. Walpole, representing British luxury brands including Burberry and Alexander McQueen, highlighted that their members are being “doubly penalised”—unable to deliver goods and subjected to a 10% tariff on those that do get through. Helen Brocklebank, Walpole’s chief executive, emphasized the financial strain this places on businesses that have built long-standing relationships with DHL and now face the daunting task of finding alternative logistics providers .

The suspension is part of a broader context of escalating trade tensions. President Donald Trump’s administration has implemented a series of tariffs aimed at reducing trade deficits, notably imposing a 145% tariff on Chinese goods. In retaliation, China has enacted a 125% tariff on U.S. products. These measures have disrupted global supply chains and increased costs for businesses and consumers alike .

Analysts warn that the growing bureaucratic strain could disrupt global e-commerce and supply chains, raising costs for U.S. consumers. The rollback of the “de minimis” exemption, which previously allowed low-cost imports to bypass duties and inspections, is expected to further impact companies that rely on shipping low-cost goods to the U.S., such as Shein and Temu .

DHL has emphasized that the suspension is a temporary measure and that they are working diligently to manage the increased workload caused by the new customs regulations. The company has not provided a specific timeline for when the suspension will be lifted but has promised to share updates as the situation evolves .

In the meantime, businesses affected by the suspension are exploring alternative logistics providers, though many have expressed concerns about the costs and complexities involved in transitioning from established relationships with DHL. The situation underscores the broader economic fallout of recent trade policy changes, affecting both exporters and American consumers of international goods. As the global trade landscape continues to evolve, businesses and consumers alike will need to adapt to the changing regulatory environment and its implications for international commerce.

Pope Francis, the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first Jesuit and Latin American Pontiff, passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. The Vatican announced his death in an official statement early this morning, stating that he died peacefully at the Vatican’s Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, where he had been living due to ongoing health issues.

The cause of death has been attributed to complications arising from his chronic respiratory illness and age-related health deterioration. Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, had been battling a range of health concerns over recent years, including knee problems and colon surgery in 2021, which had limited his mobility and public appearances.

“With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a shepherd of compassion, humility, and unyielding commitment to the poor and the marginalized. His legacy will continue to inspire millions across the globe.” Elected in March 2013 following the historic resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis brought a new tone to the papacy. Known for his humility and informal style, he eschewed many traditional papal luxuries, choosing to live in a guesthouse rather than the Apostolic Palace and often traveling in a modest Fiat rather than a luxury vehicle.

His papacy was marked by efforts to modernize the Church’s image and make it more inclusive. He took unprecedented steps toward addressing sexual abuse scandals, although critics argue more structural reform was needed. He also spoke out strongly on climate change, social justice, economic inequality, and migration issues.

Perhaps his most enduring legacy will be his attempts to open the Church’s doors to previously marginalized groups, famously saying, “Who am I to judge?” in reference to gay Catholics. He also sought interfaith dialogue, visiting Muslim-majority countries and fostering relations with Judaism, Islam, and other faiths.

World leaders, religious figures, and millions of Catholics across the world have expressed deep sadness at his passing. U.S. President Kamala Harris issued a statement saying, “Pope Francis was a beacon of hope and humanity. He brought moral clarity to complex issues and reminded us all of the power of compassion.”

German Chancellor Annalena Baerbock, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres all offered tributes, highlighting his diplomatic efforts and moral leadership. The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica tolled mournfully today as thousands gathered in Vatican City, laying flowers, lighting candles, and offering prayers. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tagle of the Philippines, seen as one of Francis’s closest allies, said in a press conference, *l“He showed us what it means to be Christ-like in the modern world—humble, courageous, and full of love.”

With the Pope’s death, the papal seat—known as the “Holy See”—is now officially vacant, a state referred to as sede vacante (Latin for “the seat being vacant”). The Vatican has lowered all its flags to half-mast and will observe a traditional nine-day mourning period known as the Novemdiales, during which daily masses will be held in his honor.

The Dean of the College of Cardinals, currently Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, will soon call for a conclave—a secretive gathering of cardinals under the age of 80—who will convene in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new Pope. This process, shrouded in centuries-old ritual and secrecy, could take days or even weeks depending on consensus.

Until a new Pope is elected, the Camerlengo, currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell, will administer the Vatican’s day-to-day affairs. Observers are already speculating on who might succeed Pope Francis. Potential candidates include Cardinal Tagle of the Philippines, Cardinal Péter Erdő of Hungary, and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Italy. The next Pope will inherit not only a deeply spiritual office but also a Church wrestling with issues of relevance, reform, and unity in an increasingly secular and polarized world.

Pope Francis leaves behind a complex yet compelling legacy. He was a man of paradoxes—traditional in doctrine yet progressive in tone, humble in demeanor yet commanding global attention. Under his leadership, the Catholic Church became more visibly engaged in global discourse on climate, migration, and poverty, even as it grappled with internal crises.

Though some conservatives within the Church viewed his reforms as too progressive, others saw them as essential steps toward making the Church more relevant in the 21st century. His writings, including Laudato Si’ l on the environment and Fratelli Tutti on human fraternity, are expected to shape Catholic thought and moral philosophy for decades to come. As millions mourn his passing, Pope Francis’s memory is sure to live on—in his words, his deeds, and the profound human touch he brought to the papacy. The world now turns its eyes toward the Vatican once more, as the Church prepares to elect a new spiritual leader to carry forward the torch of faith, compassion, and reform that Pope Francis so bravely reignited.

Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, leaves behind a legacy defined by humility, courage, and a relentless devotion to peace. For many of us observing the ongoing crises in the Middle East, his presence felt like a rare moral compass—one willing to speak hard truths while remaining deeply grounded in compassion. His daily calls to Gaza, his condemnation of violence in all its forms, and his unwavering stance against antisemitism shaped a papacy that will be remembered not only for reform within the Catholic Church, but for moral clarity during one of the most polarising times in modern history.

In the early days of the Israel-Gaza conflict that erupted on October 7, 2023, Pope Francis chose not to sit in silence. Instead, he began calling the Holy Family Church in Gaza—Gaza’s only Catholic parish—every single day. Sometimes via WhatsApp, sometimes through brief voice calls, he reached out directly to Father Gabriel Romanelli and the 600 people sheltering within the church walls. This continued even as his own health deteriorated. Whether from his room at Casa Santa Marta or hospital recovery, his voice remained consistent: protect the children, help the civilians, seek peace.

I found it remarkable that while global leaders offered platitudes or picked sides, Pope Francis stuck to a simple but radical message—“End the violence. Let humanitarian aid reach the people. Release the hostages. And most of all, stop the killing.” He referred to the killing of two Palestinian Christian women in Gaza by an Israeli sniper as an act of “terrorism,” refusing to dilute the truth behind politically correct language.

His commitment to the people of Gaza was not a departure from Catholic teaching but a continuation of the same inclusive philosophy that defined his entire papacy. Critics often tried to frame his positions as controversial, but he never wavered. During his final Easter message, he again implored for a ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of aid to the starving population, treating both Israelis and Palestinians with equal human dignity. That clarity—recognising the suffering on both sides while calling for justice—was Francis at his best.

And yet, this same Pope who stood by Gaza was equally vocal against antisemitism, a balance many today fail to navigate. He repeatedly denounced the resurgence of antisemitism in Europe and elsewhere, calling it a “sin against God.” He firmly upheld the reforms of Vatican II, embraced the Jewish people as “elder brothers” in faith, and made interfaith dialogue a central mission of his pontificate. During his visit to Auschwitz in 2016, Francis walked in silent prayer for over 15 minutes—speaking louder in that silence than many ever could with words.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis demonstrated that standing up for Palestinians didn’t require abandoning the fight against antisemitism. For him, moral consistency wasn’t optional; it was essential. He rejected extremism of all forms, condemned both Hamas’s attacks and Israel’s excessive use of force, and navigated these crises with empathy, not ideology.

In today’s climate, where statements are instantly politicised and leaders are quick to equivocate, Pope Francis chose the narrow road. He called out suffering when he saw it, whether in Gaza, Ukraine, or the camps of Myanmar’s Rohingya. His friendship with Jewish leaders and commitment to remembering the horrors of the Holocaust never conflicted with his urgent calls to help the oppressed in Gaza. That rare ability to hold empathy for both sides—without becoming paralysed by it—is what made him such a unique figure.

Pope Francis died as he lived: in service to the margins. His last recorded words to Father Romanelli in Gaza echoed a theme that defined his life: “Do not lose hope. The Lord is with you.”

As a journalist and editor who has covered the politics and conflicts of the Middle East for many years, I rarely find myself moved by the words of any leader. But Francis was different. He didn’t just speak to the world; he listened to it. And for those trapped in the chaos of Gaza, hearing his voice each evening—quiet, unwavering—was enough to keep hope alive another day.

He wasn’t the pope of one people. He was the pope of the suffering. And in this fractured world, that may be the holiest legacy of all.