The USS Gerald R. Ford, the nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier, has entered the Caribbean as part of a massive U.S. military buildup near Venezuela, raising concerns over the White House’s escalating counterdrug campaign. While officials claim the operation targets narcotrafficking, critics warn it signals heightened pressure on President Nicolás Maduro and potentially unlawful military actions in the region.
Category: INTERNATIONAL
International News / Items from Around the World
Posted inOPINION
Sudan: In the face of dastardly acts, the world remains silent
Jennifer R. Farmer is the author of “First and Only: A Black Woman’s Guide to Thriving at Work and in Life,” and founder of the social good public relations firm, Spotlight PR LLC. Farmer urges the world to confront the ongoing atrocities in Sudan, arguing that true commitment to the value of Black lives must include protecting Sudanese civilians from genocide and mass suffering.
Posted inNational News
Congressman Meeks chastises president for threatened invasion of Nigeria
Congressman Greg Meeks criticized the 47th president’s social media threat to send U.S. troops to Nigeria over alleged anti-Christian violence, calling it a reckless oversimplification of the country’s complex conflicts. Meeks emphasized that violence in Nigeria stems from resource disputes and insurgent activity, not solely religion, and stressed that all Nigerians deserve protection.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Hurricane death toll rises to 43 in Haiti as aid pours in across the northern Caribbean
The death toll from Hurricane Melissa has climbed to 43 in Haiti and 32 in Jamaica, with thousands displaced and entire communities cut off by flooding and landslides. The U.S. has pledged $24 million in aid as relief efforts ramp up across the devastated Caribbean region.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Kenyan landslide death toll rises to 26 as flash floods hamper search for survivors
Heavy rains in western Kenya triggered a deadly landslide in Elgeyo Marakwet County, killing at least 26 people and leaving 25 missing as flash floods forced rescuers to suspend search efforts. The government and Red Cross are airlifting supplies and urging residents in high-risk areas to relocate as rains and landslide threats continue.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
US warship docks in Trinidad and Tobago, amid rising tensions with Venezuela
The U.S. warship USS Gravely docked in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, for joint military exercises, heightening pressure on Venezuela amid tensions with President Nicolás Maduro. The visit, supported by Trinidad’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has drawn criticism from local activists and follows a U.S. Embassy warning about potential threats to Americans in the country.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Hurricane Melissa bears down on Jamaica and threatens to be the island’s strongest recorded storm
Hurricane Melissa intensified into a Category 5 storm as it neared Jamaica, threatening catastrophic flooding, landslides, and widespread destruction. The storm, already blamed for six deaths across the Caribbean, could be the strongest to ever hit the island.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
African American sorority makes history again with first chapter in Puerto Rico
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has chartered its first-ever chapter in Puerto Rico, marking the organization’s historic expansion into a Spanish-speaking Latin American region. The new Alpha Delta Nu Omega Chapter, based in San Juan, will continue the sorority’s mission of service by supporting women, children, and families across the island, beginning with projects addressing childhood hunger and disaster preparedness.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
South African rowers of color become first to compete at Boston regatta, part of larger trend toward access
Four South African rowers made history as the first crew of color from their country to compete internationally at Boston’s Head of the Charles Regatta, part of a global effort to diversify one of the world’s most exclusive sports. Their journey highlights how lack of access — not talent — continues to limit participation for athletes of color in rowing.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
World’s oldest president could extend his rule as Cameroon votes in an election
Cameroonians went to the polls on Oct. 12 in an election that could extend 92-year-old President Paul Biya’s four-decade rule, making him one of the world’s longest-serving leaders. Despite widespread frustration over poverty, corruption, and conflict, analysts predict Biya will likely retain power amid doubts about the fairness of the vote.
Posted inClimate Change
In Kenya, a search for links between a changing climate and mental health
In Kenya’s Kilifi County, researchers are finding that droughts and floods linked to climate change are worsening mental health challenges for women farmers. A new study by The Aga Khan University shows that extreme weather is associated with rising levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts in rural communities.
Posted inNational News
ICE arrests leader of Iowa’s largest school district, says he was living and working in US illegally
Des Moines Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts was arrested by ICE on Sept. 26 for allegedly living and working in the U.S. illegally, shocking the community. A respected educator and Guyana native, Roberts also has a prior weapons infraction, raising questions about his employment and legal status.
