Pope Leo XIV visited the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima in Angola, a Catholic shrine with deep spiritual significance and a painful history as a hub in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. During his visit, he prayed for healing and acknowledged the suffering endured by Angolans over centuries, while scholars and observers reflected on the Catholic Church’s historical role in slavery and the need for further acknowledgment and reconciliation.
Category: INTERNATIONAL
International News / Items from Around the World
Posted inPOLITICS
Supreme Court weighs future of 14th Amendment in historic citizenship case
The Supreme Court is preparing to rule on an executive challenge to the 14th Amendment that could replace the long-standing principle of birthright citizenship with a system requiring proof of parental status. Legal experts and advocates warn that this shift could create profound administrative hurdles for marginalized communities and potentially leave millions of American-born children without access to essential services.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Haitians cut back on already scarce food and ask how they’ll survive rising fuel prices
Rising global oil prices have driven up fuel costs in Haiti, worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis by increasing transportation and food prices, forcing families to eat less and struggle to survive.
Posted inNational News
Calls for investigation after Haitian asylum seeker dies days after ICE release
A 31-year-old Haitian asylum seeker was found dead at a Pittsburgh bus stop just days after being released from federal immigration custody. Attorneys and advocacy groups are calling for answers about the circumstances surrounding her release and death.
Posted inNational News
U.S. president pulls back on threats against Iran with 2-week ceasefire agreement
The U.S. president has announced that he’s pulling back on his threats to launch devastating strikes on Iran. A two-week ceasefire is now in effect in the war against Iran, which was launched on Feb. 28 by the United States and Israel.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Wow!’ Eye surgery marathon restores sight for some South Africans
By Michelle GumedeThe Associated Press TSAKANE, South Africa (AP) — Gladys Khoza had missed being able to see her family. Not because they couldn’t visit, but because the 84-year-old had vision problems. Now that has changed. Khoza is one of 133 people whose sight was restored during a “marathon” of free cataract surgeries conducted by […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Central Haitian town descends into fire and bloodshed from gang warfare
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.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
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.
Posted inAfro Briefs
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.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
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.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
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.
Posted inNational News
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.