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Pope Leo Meets Catholic Cardinals, Calls for Unity and Reform

Pope Leo Meets Catholic Cardinals, Calls For Unity And Reform

January 8, 2026 9:33 am

Pope Leo on Thursday called on the world’s Catholic cardinals to set aside internal divisions and focus on spreading a message of inclusion and unity, as he opened a high-level summit aimed at shaping the future direction of the 1.4-billion-member Church.

Speaking during a closed-door meeting at the Vatican, the new pope emphasized that the Church’s growth depends on its ability to attract new believers through a credible message of compassion, according to remarks released by the Holy See.

“Only love is trustworthy; only love is credible,” Pope Leo told the assembled cardinals. “While unity attracts, division scatters,” he added, …

Ukraine Security Guarantees Gain US Backing At Paris Summit

Ukraine Security Guarantees Gain US Backing At Paris Summit

January 7, 2026 2:02 am

The United States publicly aligned itself with a broad coalition of Ukraine’s allies in supporting future security guarantees designed to deter renewed Russian aggression, marking Washington’s most explicit backing yet of the framework under discussion by European partners.

The commitment emerged from a high-level meeting in Paris of the so-called “coalition of the willing,” a group of mostly European nations working to define security arrangements for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia, which first invaded Ukraine in 2014 and launched a full-scale war in 2022.

Unlike earlier meetings, the Paris summit included senior U.S. representatives, among …

Reuters/China Africa Diplomatic Tour Targets Trade And Strategy

China Africa Diplomatic Tour Targets Trade And Strategy

January 7, 2026 12:15 am

China’s foreign minister began his annual New Year diplomatic tour of Africa on Wednesday, signaling Beijing’s renewed push to deepen political and economic influence across key regions of the continent as global competition for trade routes and resources intensifies.…

U.S. Venezuela Oil Deal Shifts Sanctions And Supply Flows

U.S. Venezuela Oil Deal Shifts Sanctions And Supply Flows

January 7, 2026 12:06 am

The United States and Venezuela have reached an agreement allowing up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude oil to be exported to U.S. ports, President Donald Trump said Tuesday, marking a major shift in Washington’s sanctions strategy and potentially redirecting oil supplies away from China.

The deal would release millions of barrels of Venezuelan crude currently stranded on tankers and in storage, easing pressure on Venezuela’s oil sector while increasing heavy crude supplies for U.S. refiners along the Gulf Coast.

The agreement comes after weeks of intensified U.S. pressure on Caracas, including a mid-December blockade on Venezuelan oil exports. …

Mexico Response To U.S. Venezuela Attack Signals Tension

Mexico Response To U.S. Venezuela Attack Signals Tension

January 6, 2026 9:51 am

Mexico has issued a sharp public rebuke of the U.S. military operation in Venezuela while quietly reinforcing security cooperation with Washington, as President Donald Trump’s latest remarks revive fears of potential U.S. action closer to home.

The response highlights the delicate diplomatic path Mexico is navigating under Trump’s second term: opposing U.S. intervention abroad without provoking retaliation, particularly after Trump suggested that Mexico itself could become a future target.

The tension escalated over the weekend after U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife at their residence. Hours later, Trump raised the possibility of U.S. military action …

Iran Protests Death Toll Rises as Economic Unrest Spreads

Iran Protests Death Toll Rises as Economic Unrest Spreads

January 6, 2026 9:23 am

At least 25 people have been killed in Iran during nine days of protests sparked by the rapid collapse of the national currency and surging inflation, according to Iranian and international rights groups monitoring the unrest.

Demonstrations began in Tehran’s central bazaar and have since spread to several cities in western and southern Iran, showing growing public frustration with worsening economic conditions as authorities move to contain the protests through arrests and security operations.

The protests initially focused on economic grievances, including the sharp fall of the rial and rising prices of basic goods. On Tuesday, shopkeepers continued demonstrations in …

Reuters/West Bank 4G Mobile Services Approved by Israel

West Bank 4G Mobile Services Approved by Israel

January 6, 2026 9:14 am

Israel has approved the rollout of fourth-generation (4G) mobile services for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, a move that could significantly improve internet speeds after years of technological lag, the Israeli Communications Ministry said on Tuesday.

The decision clears the way for the territory’s two Palestinian mobile operators—Jawwal and Ooredoo—to begin upgrading their networks under newly approved management agreements involving Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson, according to the ministry.

Palestinian providers introduced third-generation (3G) mobile data services in the West Bank in 2018, following years of restrictions that prevented them from operating advanced networks. The upgrade narrowed—but did not …

Trump Greenland Takeover Threats Draw Sharp Denmark Warning

Trump Greenland Takeover Threats Draw Sharp Denmark Warning

January 5, 2026 2:46 am

Denmark’s prime minister on Monday issued a direct warning to U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him to halt what she described as repeated threats to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory within the Danish kingdom.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said suggestions that the United States could annex Greenland were unacceptable and legally unfounded, stressing that neither Denmark nor Greenland is for sale. Her remarks followed renewed comments by Trump asserting that Washington needs Greenland for U.S. national security.

In a statement published on the Danish government’s website, Frederiksen said she was addressing the United States “very directly,” adding …

China–Ireland Trade Ties in Focus at Xi–Martin Talks

China–Ireland Trade Ties in Focus at Xi–Martin Talks

January 5, 2026 2:08 am

Chinese President Xi Jinping said China wants to expand economic and trade cooperation with Ireland, presenting stronger bilateral ties as a pathway to improving relations with the European Union amid ongoing frictions between Beijing and Brussels.

Xi made the remarks on Monday during talks with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, according to a media pool report. The meeting marked the first visit by an Irish taoiseach to China in 14 years.

Opening the meeting, Xi highlighted mutual respect and “win-win outcomes” as the foundation for long-term, stable relations between China and Ireland. He …

China Rejects U.S. “World Judge” Role In Maduro Capture

China Rejects U.S. “World Judge” Role In Maduro Capture

January 5, 2026 1:47 am

China has pushed back sharply against U.S. actions in Venezuela, saying no country has the right to act as a global enforcer, after American forces detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and transferred him to the United States.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks on Sunday during talks in Beijing with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, referring to what he described as “sudden developments in Venezuela” without naming Washington directly.

Wang added that the sovereignty and security of all states must be respected under international law, marking Beijing’s first public response since images of a blindfolded and handcuffed …

Reuters/Maduro To Appear In U.S. Court As Trump Warns Of More Action

Maduro To Appear In U.S. Court As Trump Warns Of More Action

January 5, 2026 1:37 am

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is scheduled to appear before a U.S. federal court on Monday, a day after his capture by American forces in a military operation in Caracas that has sharply escalated tensions across the region.

The unprecedented detention of a sitting head of state has rattled global markets, unsettled U.S. allies, and raised questions about Washington’s next steps in Venezuela, where the government remains in power despite Maduro’s arrest.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he could authorize additional military action if Venezuela fails to cooperate with U.S. demands, including opening its oil sector to foreign …

North Korea Missile Launch Raises Tension Ahead Of China Visit

North Korea Missile Launch Raises Tension Ahead Of China Visit

January 4, 2026 10:23 am

North Korea launched at least two ballistic missiles early Sunday, according to South Korea and Japan, in a move that added to mounting global tensions as diplomatic activity unfolded in East Asia and Washington escalated military action in Venezuela.

The launches — Pyongyang’s first missile tests in nearly two months — came just hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung began a state visit to China and shortly after the United States carried out a dramatic operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

South Korea’s military said the missiles were fired from the …

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𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬, 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤, is a nonpartisan online news portal founded on the truth to provide you with weekly, insightful articles written with precision and current updates on current events from Africa in particular and the rest of the world in general. All of our reports undergo extensive fact-checking to ensure their veracity, and we adhere strictly to the facts, no matter whose ox is gored.

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