World Headlines
Rwandan genocide leader living in exclusive New York enclave arrested for alleged immigration violations
Mark Wilson/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- An alleged leader of violence during the Rwandan genocide in 1994 has been living in an exclusive enclave on Long Island, where he was arrested Thursday and accused of concealing his role in horrific violence and human rights violations by making false statements in his applications for a visa, green card and for U.S. citizenship, according to the Justice Department.Faustin Nsabumukunzi is charged with visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud for allegedly lying on his application for a green card and for U.S. citizenship.Nsabumukunzi was arrested at his home in Bridgehampton and was scheduled to appear later Thursday in Central Islip federal court.“As alleged, Nsabumukunzi repeatedly lied to conceal his involvement in the horrific Rwandan ... Read More
‘Vladimir, STOP!’ Trump says to Putin after deadliest Russian strike on Kyiv in months
(Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)(LONDON) -- At least 12 people were killed and dozens more were injured in an overnight Russian attack on several districts and residential areas in Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday, prompting President Donald Trump to issue a directive to Russian President Vladimir Putin: "Vladimir, STOP!""I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing," Trump said on social media Thursday. "Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!"When asked by a reporter at the White House on Thursday if he thinks Putin will listen to him, Trump responded, "I do, yeah."The Russian attack came amid intensifying negotiations to end the war, with White House officials pressuring Zelenskyy ... Read More
Gaza’s Catholics mourn Pope Francis, who ‘never forgot’ them during war
Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP via Getty Images(GAZA) -- Gaza's small Catholic community is mourning the death of Pope Francis, who maintained daily contact with local church leaders throughout the ongoing conflict, the parish priest of the region's only Catholic church told ABC News.Father Gabriel Romanelli of Gaza City's Holy Family Church said the pontiff called the parish "every day from the beginning of the war" -- an effort the community greatly appreciated."He met the people. He remembered some people by voice," he said.Even as he expressed profound sadness at the pope's passing, Romanelli found spiritual significance in its timing."There is a mix of feelings," Romanelli told ABC News. "The first feeling is very sad ... but at the same time, because he died on Easter, ... Read More
6.2 magnitude earthquake near Istanbul rattles Turkey
(LONDON) -- A 6.2 magnitude earthquake has rattled much of Turkey Wednesday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey.The quake occurred at a depth of just 6.2 miles with the epicenter of the quake located approximately 14 miles southeast of Marmara Ere?lisi and 70 miles west of Istanbul.No casualties have been reported so far, but hospitals reported that many patients were admitted due to anxiety and panic as citizens could be seen rushing into the streets and parks.ABC News' Engin Bas and Somayeh Malekian contributed to this report.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. ... Read More
Could the next pope be from Africa or Asia? Experts weigh in
Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images(VATICAN CITY) -- Pope Francis marked multiple firsts for the papacy, becoming the first Latin American pope and the first from the Southern Hemisphere when elected in 2013.He was also the first head of the Roman Catholic Church born outside of Europe in over a millennium.Following his death on Monday at the age of 88, the selection process to elect the 267th pontiff will soon begin.Ahead of the secretive gathering of eligible cardinals for the vote, questions swirl over whether the next pope will similarly come from outside Europe, such as Asia or Africa, and potentially be another history-making leader."I do think it's fair to say that election of an archbishop from Asia or Africa is certainly ... Read More
Thermoresistant ‘super corals’ offer hope amid climate change: Scientists
Alexis Rosenfeld/Getty Images(TATAKOTO, FRENCH POLYNESIA) -- A possible "biological treasure chest" of corals located in an underwater lagoon off a remote island in the South Pacific appear to be surviving extreme heat stress caused by climate change, scientists say.In the pristine waters off a French Polynesian island in the South Pacific, a team of marine biologists believes it has made a "miracle-like" discovery -- a type of coral which can survive in abnormally warm water.The coral lives in a semi-enclosed underwater lagoon, within which the water temperature is significantly higher than the swirling South Pacific Ocean beyond.The lagoon is situated off the remote island of Tatakoto, and in the warmest month of March, water temperatures can reach a sizzling 95 ... Read More
Faithful recall Pope Francis’ historic US virtual town hall with David Muir in 2015
ABC News(VATICAN CITY) -- Pope Francis' death is bringing renewed attention to his historic virtual town hall in 2015, during which he connected with followers via satellite, demonstrating how modern technology can bridge distances and bring the Catholic Church closer to its people.Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, died Monday at the age of 88. The Vatican announced that the pope died from a stroke followed by heart failure, as mourners worldwide gathered to honor his legacy of compassion and inclusivity.Francis' death followed a series of worsening health problems, including a respiratory crisis that left him in critical condition back in February.During his decade-long papacy, Francis broke new ground in many ways, including a 2015 virtual town hall with Americans ... Read More
El Salvador government rejects lawmakers’ request to visit Abrego Garcia
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images(SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR) -- The government of El Salvador on Monday rejected a request from four Democratic lawmakers to visit wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia.The lawmakers were trying to arrange a meeting four days after a visit from Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, where Abrego Garcia and his family live.In an interview with MSNBC from El Salvador, Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost said Monday that he and the others were told that their visit was rejected because they are not in El Salvador "in an official capacity.""We're not giving up," Frost said. "We have more meetings scheduled."Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran native who has been living with his wife and children in Maryland, was deported in March to ... Read More
Who are the top contenders to be the next pope? Experts weigh in
Christoph Reichwein/picture alliance via Getty Images(VATICAN CITY) -- The question looming on many minds around the world following the death of Pope Francis on Monday is who will become the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.The selection process will begin when all cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to participate are summoned to Rome to prepare for the secret conclave inside the Sistine Chapel to choose the next pontiff. This gathering typically begins between 15 to 20 days after the pope's death.While the inner workings of the conclave and how the group ultimately decides on a new pontiff remain a secret, experts are still weighing in on who could be the likely front-runners for the papacy.Francis, ... Read More
What Pope Francis said about controversial issues from gay rights to immigration
Buda Mendes/Getty Images(VATICAN CITY) -- Pope Francis, one of the more progressive pontiff's in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday morning at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed.Francis’ willingness to take a more progressive stance on issues from LGBTQ rights to same-sex marriage to immigration make him one of the most progressive and influential popes of the modern era.Here are memorable moments from Francis' time where he voiced his opinions on those topics.Francis' stance on members of the LGBTQ communityIn December 2023, Francis formally signed off on allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, he said in a declaration released by the Vatican's office.The declaration stated, "When people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral ... Read More
What we know about Cardinal Kevin Farrell, leader of the Catholic Church until a new pope is elected
Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images(VATICAN CITY) -- Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the senior Vatican official who announced Pope Francis' death on Monday morning, will serve as head of the Catholic Church until a new pope is elected, according to the Vatican.Born in Ireland, the 77-year-old Farrell has long ties in the United States, having served as the bishop of the Diocese of Dallas and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., according to the Vatican.Pope Francis nominated Farrell in 2019 to be the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church with the responsibility of administering the property and revenues of the Holy See. In 2020, Francis also appointed Farrell as president of the Church's Commission on Confidential Matters and in 2023, the ... Read More
Electing a new pope: What happens next?
Arturo Mari - Vatican Pool/ Getty Images(VATICAN CITY) -- The process by which a new pope is elected has undergone numerous changes in the nearly two millennia that the Catholic Church has existed, with the current procedure a combination of ancient traditions and modern updates as recent as 2013, reflecting changes instituted by Pope Benedict XVI. Even so, the essential ritual has remained largely unchanged for centuries.Pope Francis' death sets into motion a series of formalized rites and observances that occur during what is called the interregnum, which begins upon the pontiff's passing and ends with the election of his successor. The period of time during which the papacy is vacant is known as the sede vacante, Latin for "vacant ... Read More
Popes through the ages: some facts you might not know
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images(VATICAN CITY) -- Who was the very first pope? How many popes have there been? Has anyone ever refused the office?For an institution that has existed for nearly 2,000 years, most people know very little about the papacy and its history. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions – and a few answers you may find surprising.Who can be pope?Canon law says any unmarried, baptized male Catholic, clergy or not, is eligible to be pope. That said, only cardinals have been elected for the last 600-plus years, so being considered for the position in this case is very much the result of whom you know.Who was the very first pope?The first pope was St. Peter, after ... Read More
Pope Francis, everyman leader of the Roman Catholic Church, dies at 88
Franco Origlia/Getty Images(VATICAN CITY) -- Pope Francis, whose time as head of the Catholic Church was noted for an everyman humility and outreach efforts to people of disparate backgrounds and faiths, has died at 88, the Vatican has confirmed."At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church," Cardinal Kevin Farrell said on Monday.Pope Francis was hospitalized for just over five weeks beginning in February 2025 to address what the Vatican initially said was a respiratory tract infection, for which he began receiving treatment. Four days after his hospitalization, the Vatican revealed that Francis had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.The ... Read More
Putin apologizes for ‘tragic incident’ but stops short of saying Azerbaijani plane was shot down
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a “tragic incident” following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people, but stopped short of acknowledging that Moscow was responsible. Putin’s apology came as allegations mounted that the plane had been shot down by Russian air defenses attempting to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya. An official Kremlin statement issued Saturday said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny airport as the airliner “repeatedly” attempted to land there on Wednesday. It did not explicitly say one of these hit the plane. The statement said Putin apologized ... Read More
What we know about the shooter
WASHINGTON (AP) — The man identified as the shooter in the apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump was a 20-year-old from a Pittsburgh suburb not far from the campaign rally where one attendee was killed. Investigators were working Sunday to gather more information about Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, who they say opened fire at the rally before being killed by Secret Service days before Trump was to accept the Republican nomination for a third time. An FBI official said late Saturday that investigators had not yet determined a motive. Two spectators were critically injured, authorities said. Relatives of Crooks didn’t immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press. His father, Matthew Crooks, told CNN late ... Read MorePrayers for Trump also pour in from political rivals
Prayers for the former president are also coming from his political opponents. “I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe. Political violence has no place in our country,†said Sen. Chuck Schumer in a statement. “We should all condemn what happened today and I am hoping for the health of the former president and everyone else at the rally,†Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy posted on the social platform X. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a post on X that his “thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump†and expressed thanks “for the decisive law enforcement response.†... Read MoreWikiLeaks founder facing pivotal moment in long fight to stay out of US court
LONDON -- The host of a news conference about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's extradition fight wryly welcomed journalists last week to the “millionth†press briefing on his court case. Deborah Bonetti, director of the Foreign Press Association, was only half joking. Assange’s legal saga has dragged on for well over a decade but it could come to an end in the U.K. as soon as Monday. Assange faces a hearing in London's High Court that could end with him being sent to the U.S. to face espionage charges, or provide him another chance to appeal his extradition. The outcome will depend on how much weight judges give to reassurances U.S. officials have provided that Assange's rights won't be trampled if ... Read More
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