International

Pope Leo XIV approves first beatification steps for missionaries killed in Ecuador

Pope Leo XIV has issued his first decrees related to the causes of saints, approving the initial step toward beatification for two Catholic missionaries—Spanish Bishop Alejandro Labaka Ugarte (1920–1987) and Colombian Sister Inés Arango Velásquez (1937–1987)—both of whom were violently killed in the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Vatican announced on Thursday.

The newly elected pope, himself a former missionary in Peru for several decades, received Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, and signed several decrees recognizing “the offering of life” by the two missionaries, as well as the “heroic virtues” of Indian Bishop Matteo Makil.

These are the first steps Pope Leo XIV has taken in the canonization process since his election on May 8.

In 2017, Pope Francis introduced the “offering of life” as a valid path toward beatification. It recognizes individuals who freely gave their lives for others, leading to death. For beatification, a miracle attributed to the candidate’s intercession is required; for canonization, a second miracle must be confirmed after beatification.

Alejandro Labaka Ugarte, also known by his religious name Manuel de Beizama, was born in Beizama, Spain, in 1920. A Capuchin friar and Apostolic Vicar of Aguarico, Ecuador, he was killed in 1987 in the Tigüino region of the Amazon, after attempting contact with an isolated Indigenous tribe. He died after being struck with spears.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

Sister Inés Arango Velásquez, known in religious life as María Nieves of Medellín, was born in 1937 in Medellín, Colombia. A professed nun of the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family, she was killed alongside Labaka on June 21, 1987.

Both missionaries died at the hands of an uncontacted Indigenous group that sought to protect its territory from oil companies advancing into the rainforest.

International

U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute

The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.

All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.

The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.

The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.

“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

International

Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.

“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.

Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.

According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

International

Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power

Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.

The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.

Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.

Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.

The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.

Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.

In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.