International
Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismailite Muslims, dies at the age of 88 in Lisbon
Prince Karim al Hussaini Aga Khan IV, philanthropist and spiritual leader of the Ismailite Muslims, died this Tuesday in Lisbon at the age of 88 surrounded by his family.
Its foundation, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), reported in a statement the death of the 49º imam of the Ismailite Shiite Muslims and “direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad.”
The note added that, after this death, his designated successor will be announced.
Born in Switzerland in 1936 and raised in this country and in Kenya, he was studying at Harvard when he was appointed imam of between 12 and 15 million Ismailites that are estimated to be in the world in 1957 by his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan.
Known for his opulent mansions and his taste for careers, Karim al Hussaini Aga Khan was known for his work as a philanthropist and being in charge of the network of institutions around the world dedicated to education, health, social and economic development, and culture.
It is not known for sure how much his fortune amounted to, there are those who place it in billions of dollars.
The Ismailites are a Shiite Muslim minority that since the 19th century has granted the title of Aga Khan to their imam, who is attributed a direct descent from Muhammad.
The imams have no control over any specific territory but exert their influence through the AKDN.
Portugal hosts one of the largest Ismailite communities in Europe, with between 8,000 and 10,000 people.
Ten years ago, the Portuguese Government and Aga Khan signed an agreement to establish the world headquarters of the Ismali Imamat in Portugal.
Three years later, Aga Khan officially designated the Henrique de Mendoça Palace in Lisbon as the global headquarters of the Ismaeli Imamat.
Among the honors he received throughout his life stands out that of “her highness”, granted by Queen Elizabeth of England in 1957, and that of “her royal highness” that was granted to her two years later by the then Shah of Iran.
Two times married and with four children, he created a business empire that goes from the banking sector to hotels.
In the 1960s he founded the luxury tourist enclave of Porto Cervo, in Sardinia (Italy), and the Costa Smeralda yacht club, which became a pole of attraction for European royalty, Hollywood actors and celebrities of the time.
Even so, in the interviews he defined himself as a religious leader rather than an entrepreneur and claimed to be focused on fighting poverty by promoting the autonomy of people and culture.
International
Thousands rally nationwide against Trump’s threat to U.S. democracy
Thousands of protesters gathered on Saturday (April 19, 2025) in major cities like New York and Washington, as well as in small communities across the United States, in a second wave of demonstrations against President Donald Trump. The crowds denounced what they view as growing threats to the country’s democratic ideals.
In New York City, demonstrators of all ages rallied in front of the Public Library near Trump Tower, holding signs accusing the president of undermining democratic institutions and judicial independence.
Many protesters also criticized Trump’s hardline immigration policies, including mass deportations and raids targeting undocumented migrants.
“Democracy is in grave danger,” said Kathy Valyi, 73, the daughter of Holocaust survivors. She told AFP that the stories her parents shared about Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1930s Germany “are happening here now.”
In Washington, demonstrators voiced concern over what they see as Trump’s disregard for long-standing constitutional norms, such as the right to due process.
International
ACLU seeks emergency court order to stop venezuelan deportations under Wartime Law
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Friday asked two federal judges to block the U.S. government under President Donald Trump from deporting any Venezuelan nationals detained in North Texas under a rarely used 18th-century wartime law, arguing that immigration officials appear to be moving forward with deportations despite Supreme Court-imposed limitations.
The ACLU has already filed lawsuits to stop the deportation of two Venezuelan men held at the Bluebonnet Detention Center, challenging the application of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The organization is now seeking a broader court order that would prevent the deportation of any immigrant in the region under that law.
In an emergency filing early Friday, the ACLU warned that immigration authorities were accusing other Venezuelan detainees of being members of the Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal gang. These accusations, the ACLU argues, are being used to justify deportations under the wartime statute.
The Alien Enemies Act has only been invoked three times in U.S. history — most notably during World War II to detain Japanese-American civilians in internment camps. The Trump administration has claimed the law allows them to swiftly remove individuals identified as gang members, regardless of their immigration status.
The ACLU, together with Democracy Forward, filed legal actions aiming to suspend all deportations carried out under the law. Although the U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed deportations to resume, it unanimously ruled that they could only proceed if detainees are given a chance to present their cases in court and are granted “a reasonable amount of time” to challenge their pending removal.
International
Dominican ‘False Hero’ Arrested for Faking Role in Nightclub Collapse That Killed 231
A man identified as Rafael Rosario Mota falsely claimed to have rescued 12 people from the collapse of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo—a tragedy that left 231 people dead—but he was never at the scene.
Intelligence agents in the Dominican Republic arrested the 32-year-old man for pretending to be a hero who saved lives during the catastrophic incident, authorities announced.
Rosario Mota had been charging for media interviews in which he falsely claimed to have pulled survivors from the rubble after the nightclub’s roof collapsed in the early hours of April 8, during a concert by merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was among those killed.
“He was never at the scene of the tragedy,” the police stated. The arrest took place just after he finished another interview on a digital platform, where he repeated his fabricated story in exchange for money as part of a “media tour” filled with manipulated information and invented testimonies.
“False hero!” read a message shared on the police force’s Instagram account alongside a short video of the suspect, in which he apologized: “I did it because I was paid. I ask forgiveness from the public and the authorities.”
Thousands rally nationwide against Trump’s threat to U.S. democracy
ACLU seeks emergency court order to stop venezuelan deportations under Wartime Law
UN complaint filed against Costa Rica over detention of migrant children
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
Central America4 days agoPetro questions Ecuador’s vote, cites reports of military control and arrests
-
International3 days agoArsenal stun Real Madrid at the Bernabéu to reach Champions League semifinals
-
International3 days agoDominican ‘False Hero’ Arrested for Faking Role in Nightclub Collapse That Killed 231
-
Central America3 days agoNicaraguan Exiles to Mark 7th Anniversary of 2018 Protests with Global Commemorations
-
International3 days agoBogotá residents line up for yellow fever vaccine amid national alert
-
International3 days agoDeSantis’ immigration crackdown sparks alarm in Venezuelan Communities in Doral
-
International1 day agoACLU seeks emergency court order to stop venezuelan deportations under Wartime Law
-
International4 days agoMexico refuses to restore ties with Ecuador while Noboa remains in office
-
Central America1 day agoUN complaint filed against Costa Rica over detention of migrant children
-
International4 days agoColombia: Search continues for missing limb of italian scientist found dismembered
-
International5 hours agoThousands rally nationwide against Trump’s threat to U.S. democracy