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Pope Leo XIV has embarked on a significant visit to Cameroon, a country grappling with sectarian conflict. During his three-day trip, he delivered a powerful speech calling for peace, justice, and an end to corruption. The Pope's message resonated with the nation's struggles, as he urged leaders to 'examine our conscience and take a bold leap forward.'The Pope's visit to Cameroon is part of a 10-day tour of Africa, which began in Algeria. His itinerary includes a 'peace meeting' in Bamenda, a city in the northwest that has been engulfed in fighting from separatist forces. In a notable gesture, the separatist forces have announced a three-day pause in hostilities during the Pope's visit.However, the Pope's message of peace and coexistence has not been universally well-received. US President Donald Trump has publicly criticized the Pope, accusing him of being 'weak on crime' and too close to the political left. The Pope has responded diplomatically, stating that he has 'no fear' of the Trump administration and will continue to advocate for peace and criticize war.The Pope's visit to the Great Mosque of Algiers earlier in the week highlighted the importance of tolerance and unity in a world plagued by conflict. He emphasized that despite differences in beliefs and ways of worship, people can 'live together in peace.'

When fighting erupted in Sudan’s streets in April 2023, families fled their homes, cities and even the country itself. Three years on, the exodus continues, with millions still on the move.The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) surveyed 1,293 displaced households in Sudan, Chad and South Sudan, exposing a grim cycle of loss. Each forced relocation strips survivors of the last remnants of their former lives.According to the findings, about 90 % of respondents have lost their homes and nearly three‑quarters report having no income. Food scarcity has become critical: more than 80 % of households in Sudan and virtually all in South Sudan regularly skip meals.Within Sudan alone, over nine million people remain displaced, while an estimated 28.9 million face acute hunger. The cumulative trauma is evident—by the fourth displacement, almost two‑thirds of individuals feel completely exhausted and depleted of resources, and roughly 65 % have been separated from family members.Despite these hardships, a remarkable degree of solidarity persists. In Sudan and Chad, one in three aid recipients continue to share their limited supplies with neighbors, strangers and newly arrived families.“In Sudan now, you are always running,” says Amina, who escaped Khartoum with four children and only the clothes on her back after her husband vanished in the early days of the fighting. “Running from war. Running for food.”Education has collapsed: only 45 % of displaced children across the three nations attend school regularly, while 18 % of households have been forced to send children to work.The NRC’s conclusion is stark. While resilience and generosity have kept the humanitarian response afloat, communities are signaling that they can no longer bear the burden alone. The mutual support that has acted as an “invisible backbone” is now stretched to its breaking point.This photo essay is provided by the Norwegian Refugee Council.

In the midst of Israel's ongoing attacks on Lebanon, which have resulted in the displacement of at least one million people, migrant workers are taking initiative to support their communities. Myra Aragon, a Filipino migrant, runs a community center called Tres Marias in a Beirut suburb, providing meals to around 200 people daily, mostly migrant workers.Aragon's efforts are part of a larger trend of migrant solidarity in Lebanon. With many migrant workers facing restrictions and discrimination due to the country's kafala labor system, they are organizing themselves to help those in need. Tres Marias is one of at least three food kitchens run by migrant workers in Lebanon, serving not only migrants but also occasionally Lebanese families.The war has exacerbated existing challenges for migrant workers, with many facing displacement, discrimination, and limited access to shelters. However, Aragon and others like her are working to provide food and a sense of community to those affected. As Aragon notes, 'Food is unifying... It is a way for people to learn about food from the Philippines, and it makes people feel cared for and seen.'Despite the danger and uncertainty posed by the war, Aragon remains committed to her work, stating, 'This war is a lot worse than the last one... But as the war carries on, I will continue to cook and distribute food to those who need it.'

Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian leader and senior figure in President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement, has been subjected to a series of violent assaults while serving a life sentence in Israeli prisons since 2002.According to his lawyer, Ben Marmarelli, Barghouti experienced three assaults over March and April, indicating a pattern of escalating violations. On April 8, he was severely beaten in Ganot Prison, left to bleed, and denied medical attention.On March 25, Barghouti was assaulted while being transferred from Megiddo Prison to Ganot. A day earlier, guards stormed his cell with a dog, forcing him to lie on the floor, and then the dog repeatedly attacked him.The conditions of his captivity have been described as harsh and inhumane, with Marmarelli and Barghouti forced to communicate through a glass partition. Despite this, Barghouti remains sharp-minded, focused, and fully engaged in following events outside the prison.Barghouti, regarded as a likely key player in the creation of a Palestinian state due to his ability to unite various political factions, is serving five life sentences for alleged attacks during the second Intifada.His treatment has raised concerns, particularly with a new Israeli law approving the one-sided use of the death penalty targeting Palestinians, which has sparked fears of a mass execution of captives held on 'terror' charges.

Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian national who was detained in France for over a year, has returned to Iran following what officials describe as a reciprocal release of French citizens held in Tehran. The University of Lyon graduate, who worked as a translator in France since 2018, was arrested in February 2025 on accusations of “promoting terrorism” after posting online comments supporting Palestine and the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. She was sentenced to one year in prison and released on bail in October, before being transferred back to Iran in mid‑April 2026. Speaking to Iran’s state television, Esfandiari condemned the French judicial process, stating, “There is no freedom of speech in France; the court’s ruling was very unjust.” Her release coincides with the recent freedom of two French nationals, Cécile Köhler (41) and Jacques Paris (72), who had been imprisoned in Iran for more than three years on espionage charges denied by their families. Köhler and Paris were arrested in May 2022, transferred to the French embassy in Tehran after their November 2025 release, and subsequently flown to Paris via Azerbaijan. French President Emmanuel Macron’s office credited a “long‑term effort” for their liberation, noting that recent diplomatic pressure linked to the US‑Israel conflict with Iran accelerated negotiations. While French authorities have not formally confirmed a swap, Iran’s state‑run IRNA agency reported that Tehran reached an agreement with Paris to exchange the French detainees for Esfandiari. The episode underscores the delicate balance of Iran‑France diplomatic ties and highlights how geopolitical tensions can influence individual human‑rights cases. Analysts suggest the exchange may set a precedent for future negotiations involving political prisoners, illustrating both the leverage of diplomatic channels and the ongoing challenges faced by activists and foreign nationals caught in broader geopolitical disputes.

A devastating school shooting has occurred in Turkiye, claiming the lives of three students and a teacher. This incident marks the second school attack in the country within a span of just two days, raising concerns about safety and security in educational institutions.The incident has sent shockwaves across the nation, highlighting the urgent need for measures to prevent such tragic events from occurring in the future. Authorities are likely to face increased scrutiny over their handling of school safety and the effectiveness of existing security protocols.

The Portland Trail Blazers have ended a four-year playoff drought with a thrilling 114-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns in an NBA play-in game. Deni Avdija led the charge with a career-high 41 points, including the decisive three-point play with 16.1 seconds remaining to cap a remarkable comeback from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit.The Trail Blazers will now face the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs in a best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series starting on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Suns will have another chance to secure a playoff spot on Friday against the winner of the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers play-in game.Avdija's impressive performance included 12 assists and seven rebounds, while Jrue Holiday added 21 points and Jerami Grant contributed 16 points, including crucial three-pointers down the stretch. For the Suns, Jalen Green scored 35 points, Devin Booker had 22 points, and Dillon Brooks added 20 points.In another play-in game, the Charlotte Hornets edged the Miami Heat 127-126 in overtime, with LaMelo Ball hitting a go-ahead layup with 4.7 seconds left and Miles Bridges blocking Davion Mitchell's shot at the buzzer.

England has taken a significant step towards qualifying for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 after Lauren Hemp's early goal secured a 1-0 win over defending champions Spain at Wembley Stadium in London.The victory marked England's third successive win, moving them above Spain to the top of group A3. Only the winners from each of the League A groups will earn direct passage to next year's tournament in Brazil.The match saw England take the lead in just three minutes as Alessia Russo set up Hemp, who scored past Cata Coll. Spain threatened an equaliser, with Irene Paredes heading just over, but Hannah Hampton's crucial saves preserved England's lead.The win also celebrated Keira Walsh's 100th England cap and honoured Euro 2022-winning goalkeeper Mary Earps in an international retirement ceremony.In other matches, Norway thrashed Slovenia 5-0 and Germany remained unbeaten with a 5-1 victory over Austria. The Netherlands took the lead in Group A2 with a 2-1 win over France, while Denmark took control of Group A1 with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Sweden.

Israeli military forces have launched a series of strikes across the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 Palestinians, including two children, a three-year-old and a 14-year-old. These attacks occurred despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on October 10 last year.The violence escalated in the northern part of the Gaza enclave on Tuesday, with Gaza's Civil Defence authorities and the Reuters news agency confirming the deaths. Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for Gaza's Civil Defence, reported that four people were killed, including the three-year-old, in a strike targeting a police vehicle in Gaza City. The Ministry of Interior stated that Israeli warplanes had targeted the police vehicle, causing several deaths and injuries, with a police officer among those killed and at least nine bystanders wounded, some critically.Further violence was reported in the northern Beit Lahiya area, where another person was killed by Israeli fire earlier in the day. Later on Tuesday evening, Civil Defence reported that another Israeli strike killed several people near an intersection in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. Medics at Al-Shifa Hospital confirmed receiving five bodies from an Israeli drone bombing involving two missiles that hit a group of people in the Shati refugee camp.Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces continue to carry out daily strikes on Gaza, resulting in almost 760 Palestinians killed since the truce was agreed upon. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that an additional 2,111 Palestinians have been injured in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire was announced, while a total of 72,336 people have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of Israel's war on the territory on October 7, 2023.