Many Argentine Catholics pray for long-awaited papal visit 

Sacred Nation

On this day 12 years ago, Pope Francis became the first pope from Latin America. Since then, in all of his travels around the world, he has never gone back to visit his home country, Argentina. Now, Pope Francis is facing health issues and has been hospitalized since Feb. 14. His followers in Argentina are praying for his recovery — and hoping that he will finally come back on a papal visit. 

Kyudo: A look into Japan’s oldest martial art

Japan in Focus

Anton Tymoshenko use jokes as a ‘defense mechanism’ as part of his wartime stand-up comedy

Arts, Culture & Media

Inside the race for the world’s fastest train

Transit

San Diego residents keep watch for ICE agents

Immigration

Hungarian filmmakers struggle despite Oscar attention

Arts, Culture & Media

“The Brutalist,” a winner of three Academy awards, was shot almost entirely in Hungary. The central European country has become one of the continent’s most-sought-after destinations for US filmmakers. For Hungarian directors though, making a movie there is fraught with challenges.

Rare cyclone batters Brisbane and Australia’s Gold Coast

Over the weekend, residents of Brisbane, Australia, were bracing for the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The storm was downgraded to a tropical low, and made landfall on the mainland on Saturday. It was the first storm of its kind in the area in 51 years. The city is further south of where tropical cyclones typically hit, and scientists say climate change is playing a role in increasing extreme weather events around the world.

La Paz’s cable car system — the world’s longest and highest — is cutting down commute times

Transportation

Sitting at 12,000 feet above sea level, Bolivia’s La Paz has the highest altitude of any administrative capital of any country in the world. And it boasts having a world class public transportation system. There are 10 lines and 26 stations. But this is no metro — it’s the longest and highest cable car system in the world.

Russian state media revel in US-Ukraine White House debacle

Global Security

It’s been just one week since the high-stakes meeting at the Oval Office where a conversation between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy imploded, live on television, for the world to see. Since then, a lot has changed, including in Russia — and you can hear it if you listen to the Kremlin’s state-run media.

Israel cuts off aid to Gaza, raising concerns about meeting dire humanitarian needs in the region

Conflict & Justice

Israel has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, citing Hamas’ rejection of a new proposal to extend the ceasefire. Hamas has expressed reservations about the plan because it does not include a commitment from Israel to end the war or fully withdraw its troops. Humanitarian groups warn that cutting off aid now could sabotage the progress made in Gaza since the start of the ceasefire back in January.

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