Pope Leo XIV delivered his bluntest message yet to Spain’s Catholic hierarchy on the abuse crisis, telling bishops they must hear survivors, acknowledge the truth and provide reparations for harm that has badly damaged the Church’s moral standing. Speaking to an assembly of Spanish bishops in Madrid today, the Pope condemned sexual abuse in the Church as a "scourge" and urged leaders to build what he called a "culture of care". "Faced with this scourge, the ecclesial community is called to respond with listening, truth,…

Pope Leo XIV opened his first trip to Spain by confronting one of the Catholic Church’s deepest scars, saying sexual abuse remained “an open wound” as he prepared to meet survivors during the visit. The 70-year-old arrived in Madrid for the first papal state visit to Spain since 2010, beginning a week-long tour with an airport welcome from King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The Vatican said he will meet victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, and the Pope told reporters aboard the papal plane…

Finnish prosecutors have charged a man with the sexual abuse of 361 children through social media, in a case the National Prosecution Authority described on Wednesday. According to the authority, the alleged offences took place between 2019 and 2022 and involved victims between the ages of nine and 15. Finnish police said in December that they were investigating the same case and suspected a 27-year-old man of 364 sexual offences against children. But the Prosecution Authority said today that prosecutors had chosen not to…

In a significant leadership shift, President Adama Barrow has named Major General Ousman Gomez as the Acting Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces. This decision comes on the heels of Lieutenant General Mamat O. A. Cham's resignation, which was surrounded by serious allegations of misconduct. In his resignation letter, Cham cited his departure was prompted by "numerous allegations of misconduct and abuse of office inconsistent with the Office of Chief of Defence Staff." Prior to his new role, Gomez held the…

Amnesty International has launched a scathing indictment against the Nigerian government, asserting that officials have failed to safeguard Fulani pastoralists detained in Kwara State. The organization alleges that a staggering 150 individuals—predominantly children—succumbed to dire conditions within a military-managed facility where displaced persons endured lengthy incarceration. According to the report, these tragic deaths occurred among roughly 1,500 Fulani individuals, including men, women, and children, who were…

Friday April 24, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia brought home 174 young nationals from Libya on Thursday in a government-led repatriation effort aimed at rescuing citizens trapped abroad, many of them after facing detention, abuse and difficult conditions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the return operation is part of continuing efforts to assist Somalis in distress and reduce the dangers linked to irregular migration and human trafficking networks. Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Mohamed…

René Redzepi steps down from Noma after abuse reports and protests at Los Angeles pop-up René Redzepi, the co-founder of Copenhagen’s Noma, said he is stepping down from the acclaimed restaurant after reports and testimony about past abuse at his business, adding fresh turbulence to one of the world’s most influential dining rooms just as it launched a pop-up in Los Angeles. “After more than two decades of building and leading this restaurant, I’ve decided to step away,” Redzepi said in an Instagram post. His announcement…

Irish book-keeper wins more than £23,000 for racial harassment at Leeds employment tribunal An Irish employee has been awarded more than £23,000 after a Leeds employment tribunal found she was racially harassed at work by the director of engineering firm West Leeds Civils. The tribunal ruled that Bernadette Hayes, a book-keeper, was subjected to repeated abuse linked to her Irish heritage, including being called “potato,” “paddy,” “stupid paddy” and “pikey,” terms the judge described as “offensive and humiliating” and…

Synthetic Drug Crisis in West Africa: A Public Health Emergency A new report warns that the proliferation of synthetic drugs across West Africa presents the most "urgent and complex" public health and security challenges facing the region. Published by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the report says the burden of consumption—and its devastating consequences—falls disproportionately on young people. "The crisis has grown so severe that since 2024, two countries have declared states of…

Lisa Phillips, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, has called for a thorough investigation into any Irish links to the convicted U.S. sex offender’s network, telling RTÉ’s The Late Late Show that she is in Ireland to meet “some powerful leaders” and press for action. Phillips’ appeal comes a week after the Dáil was told that a witness statement contained in the so‑called Epstein files alleged a young girl was trafficked through Ireland “for politicians and notable men for the purposes of sex.” “There needs to be a thorough…