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.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

20250501_vacunacion-influenza-728x90

20250501_vacunacion_vph-728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

CEL

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.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

20250501_vacunacion-influenza-728x90

20250501_vacunacion_vph-728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

CEL

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

Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.

During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.

“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.

“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”

Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

20250501_vacunacion-influenza-728x90

20250501_vacunacion_vph-728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

CEL

On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.

International

Vatican releases special “Sede Vacante” stamps ahead of papal transition

he Vatican’s post offices and select collector shops began selling special edition stamps this week to mark the period between the death of Pope Francis and the election of his successor.

Known as “Sede Vacante” stamps, they feature an image used on official Vatican documents during the interregnum between popes — two crossed keys without the papal tiara. These stamps went on sale Monday and will remain valid for postal use only until the new pontiff appears at the window overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

Until then, they can be used to send letters, postcards, and parcels. “Once the new pope is elected, the stamps lose their postal validity, but their collectible value rises,” said Francesco Santarossa, who runs a collectors’ shop across from St. Peter’s Square.

The Vatican has issued the stamps in four denominations: €1.25, €1.30, €2.45, and €3.20. Each is inscribed with “Città del Vaticano” and “Sede Vacante MMXXV” — Latin for “Vacant See 2025.”

International

Conclave to choose pope Francis’ successor could begin in early may

The conclave, which in the coming weeks must choose the successor to Pope Francis, will strictly follow a precise protocol refined over centuries.

The 135 cardinal electors, all under the age of 80, will cast their votes four times a day — except on the first day — until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority. The result will be announced to the world through the burning of the ballots with a chemical that produces the eagerly awaited white smoke, accompanied by the traditional cry of “Habemus Papam.”

The start date for the conclave could be announced today, as the cardinals are set to hold their fifth meeting since the pope’s passing. Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich suggested it could begin on May 5 or 6, following the traditional nine days of mourning. According to German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the conclave could last only “a few days.”

Although the late Argentine pontiff appointed the majority of the cardinal electors, this does not necessarily ensure the selection of a like-minded successor. Francis’ leadership style differed significantly from that of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, a German theologian who was less fond of large public gatherings. It also marked a contrast with the popular Polish pope, John Paul II.

The Argentine Jesuit’s reformist papacy drew strong criticism from more conservative sectors of the Church, who are hoping for a doctrinally focused shift. His tenure was marked by efforts to combat clerical sexual abuse, elevate the role of women and laypeople, and advocate for the poor and migrants, among other causes.