A deadly clash between the Gran Grif gang and a vigilante group in Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite, Haiti, has left widespread destruction and an unknown number of casualties. The violence, which included burned homes and bodies left in the streets, reflects Haiti’s escalating gang crisis since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. As vigilante groups increasingly retaliate with brutal tactics, the conflict has intensified, further destabilizing communities already plagued by gang control and mass displacement.
Category: INTERNATIONAL
International News / Items from Around the World
UN calls for reparations to remedy the ‘historical wrongs’ of trafficking enslaved Africans
The U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity and calling for reparations and the return of cultural artifacts. While widely supported, the measure faced opposition from the United States and a few others over legal and historical concerns.
UN panel says racist hate speech by US leaders has led to human rights violations
A U.N.-backed panel says racist rhetoric by U.S. leaders and strict immigration enforcement have contributed to serious human rights violations, urging the U.S. to review its policies and halt enforcement near schools, hospitals, and churches.
Jihadis intensify attacks against Nigeria’s military, killing officers and carting away weapons
Jihadi extremist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have intensified coordinated attacks on Nigerian military bases in the country’s northeast, killing officers and soldiers while seizing weapons and equipment. Analysts say the raids show growing sophistication by the militants, who exploit vulnerable bases and limited military presence despite U.S. training and logistical support.
Novartis settles with Henrietta Lacks’ estate over use of her ‘stolen’ cells to advance medicine
Novartis AG has reached an undisclosed settlement with the estate of Henrietta Lacks over claims it profited from her cells, taken without consent in 1951 and used in groundbreaking medical research. The case is one of several lawsuits filed by her family seeking compensation for the use of the HeLa cell line.
Video evidence undercuts ICE accounts in multiple recent shootings
Federal authorities are investigating two immigration officers accused of making untruthful statements under oath in a January 2026 Minneapolis shooting after video evidence contradicted their account. The case is the latest in a series of at least five incidents in which initial descriptions by immigration officials were later challenged or undermined by video footage, leading to dismissed charges and heightened scrutiny.
Caribbean governments agree to take U.S. deportees
Several Caribbean governments have begun signing agreements with the United States to accept third-country deportees, a move critics say followed U.S. visa restrictions on Dominica and Antigua meant to force regional compliance. Leaders in nations including Guyana, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Antigua insist the deals will exclude violent offenders and apply mainly to CARICOM nationals, while opposition groups demand greater transparency and warn about social and security impacts.
Islamic militants kill at least 162 people in attacks on 2 villages in Nigeria, lawmaker says
Armed extremists killed at least 162 people in coordinated attacks on the villages of Woro and Nuku in western Nigeria, according to a local lawmaker, with rights groups saying the toll may be higher. The massacre underscores Nigeria’s escalating security crisis, as multiple militant groups linked to the Islamic State and Boko Haram continue deadly assaults across the country.
Judge blocks 47th president’s administration from ending protections for Haitians
By Luis Andres HenaoThe Associated Press SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — A federal judge on Feb. 2 blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary protections that have allowed roughly 350,000 Haitians to live and work in the U.S. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington granted a request to pause the termination of temporary protected status […]
Commentary: Revisiting the brutal history of Senegal’s Gorée Island and The House of Slaves
A father-and-son journey to Senegal becomes a powerful exploration of culture, hospitality, and historical memory, centering on a visit to Gorée Island and the House of Slaves. Through art, local encounters, and guided history, the writers reflect on the brutality of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the resilience of the Senegalese people, and the enduring importance of preserving Africa’s past while engaging its vibrant present.
More than 100 dead in torrential rains and floods across southern Africa
Torrential rains and widespread flooding across southern Africa have killed more than 100 people in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, prompting helicopter rescues, mass evacuations and emergency deployments. With hundreds of thousands affected—especially in Mozambique—authorities warn that more rain linked to the La Niña weather pattern could worsen the humanitarian crisis.
Anthony Joshua posts his first public update since the car crash that killed two of his friends
Anthony Joshua shared his first public message since surviving a car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends and team members, posting a photo with his mother and others alongside a tribute caption. The former heavyweight champion sustained minor injuries in the Dec. 29 crash near Lagos, while his strength coach Sina Ghami and trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele were killed; the driver has since been charged as investigations continue.

