NEW YORK —  The line between conviction and performance blurred Friday night beneath the vaulted ceiling of Gotham Hall, where former heads of state, dissidents, and American lawmakers gathered for the annual “Heroes of Democracy” gala hosted by the Renew Democracy Initiative . The evening carried the polish of a diplomatic summit and the urgency of a warning. Honorees included figures who have defined, and contested, the modern democratic order: the former U.S. national se

At the annual convention of the National Action Network, led by Rev. Al Sharpton, former Vice President Kamala Harris delivered what was at once a domestic political speech and an early signal of a potential presidential campaign, while quietly reframing Africa as a measure of America’s global standing. Pressed directly on stage about her political future, Vice President Kamala Harris offered her clearest indication yet that she may seek the presidency again. “I might. I’m th

The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s military and several senior commanders, accusing them of providing support to the M23 rebel group fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in a move that signals a sharp escalation in diplomatic pressure on Kigali. The sanctions, announced by the U.S. Treasury Department on March 2, target the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and four senior officials believed to be involved in backing the March 23 Movement (M23), a

Courtesy Image On December 20, 2025, only weeks after a new peace agreement, the Washington Accords , between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda was signed,  the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio described the deal as something new: a baseline that could be enforced . For the first time, the United States positioned itself as the central broker of a formal peace framework between the two countries, signaling a deeper diplomatic and strategic investment i

World leaders, ministers, and industry officials from more than 50 countries are gathered in Washington today for the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial , aimed at strengthening global supply chains for materials essential to modern technology, clean energy, and national defense, U.S. officials said. The summit, hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the U.S. State Department, comes amid rising concerns over dependency on a small number of producers, particularly

Uganda’s presidential election this week has unfolded amid widespread controversy, security force crackdowns and deep concerns about the integrity of the vote — an election that could extend President Yoweri Museveni’s nearly four-decade rule. President Museveni, 81, is widely expected to secure an unprecedented seventh term, with early tallies showing him leading by a wide margin over his most prominent challenger, opposition leader Robert “Bobi Wine” Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. Cr

In one of his first major acts since taking office, Mayor Zohran Mamdani today unveiled a sweeping consumer protection initiative designed to confront hidden fees, deceptive landlord practices, and unsafe housing conditions that many New Yorkers say have eroded confidence in the city’s rental market. At a press event in Queens alongside New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Mamdani outlined plans to launch citywide “Rental Ripoff” hearings and pledged to use tenants’

By the time Zohran Mamdani stepped into the vast, silent chamber of the Old City Hall subway station just after midnight on January 1, 2026, New York had already signaled its intention to turn a page. Outside, Times Square hummed with revelers celebrating the New Year. Below ground, amid the echoing Beaux-Arts arches and the lingering smell of dust and cold stone, history was being made. It was here, in a decommissioned subway station that had not seen regular service since

Don Muleme, a Ugandan immigrant in his mid-to-late 30s, appeared Monday morning in Waltham District Court, where he was arraigned on charges that include assault and battery, as well as alleged violations related to an existing probation and his driver’s license. Mr. Muleme was brought into the courtroom at approximately 10:25 a.m., escorted by court security officers from a holding area below the courtroom. He was restrained at the waist, wrists and ankles and wore a blue co

Lamparski/Getty Images At precisely 11:59 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, the iconic Times Square ball descended from atop One Times Square, illuminating a crisp winter night and heralding the arrival of 2026. Crowds filling the crossroads of Midtown Manhattan erupted in cheers, their breath visible in the cold but spirits undampened by the chill—a testament to the enduring allure of one of the world’s most watched New Year’s celebrations. This year’s festivities featured the Constel

On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams directed city agencies to explore ways to enhance outreach and engagement with all residents, including those who do not speak English, through the use of language technology. Under this initiative, the city plans to equip over 100,000 city-owned devices with translation apps to make municipal services more accessible. The NYC Office of Technology and Innovation will assist agencies in downloading and utilizing tools such as Google Translate and Ap

Washington, D.C. — Dozens of Tanzanians from across the United States gathered this weekend outside the Tanzanian Embassy in Washington, D.C., staging a solemn vigil for civilians killed during the country’s post-election unrest, a political crisis whose full toll has yet to be counted and whose shockwaves are now rippling well beyond Tanzania’s borders. Drawn by grief, anger, and a sense of obligation, members of the diaspora stood shoulder to shoulder beneath the embassy’

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Thursday approved a five-year, $2.5-billion health cooperation pact with Kenya — the inaugural deal in what officials say will be a broad rollout of similarly structured agreements with countries viewed as strategically aligned with the president’s foreign policy priorities. Kenyan President William Ruto and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the agreement, which replaces the long-standing collection of health programs historic

Manhattan (GAB) - New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont joined dozens of striking Starbucks union workers on the picket line in Gowanus on Dec. 1, urging the company to resume negotiations and agree to a fair contract. The workers have been on an open-ended unfair labor practice strike since Nov. 13—now the longest ULP strike in the company’s history. The action, known as the “Red Cup Rebellion,” grew even larger on Black Friday, Nov

The Trump administration has temporarily stopped processing immigration petitions from people originating in 19 countries already subject to travel limits or heightened security reviews. According to a memo issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Tuesday, applications from nationals of countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and others on prior travel-restriction lists will not move forward for now. In the memo, USCIS acknowle

On a breezy, brisk Thanksgiving morning, Manhattan came alive once again with the spectacle of the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. From Central Park West to Herald Square, giant helium balloons bobbed between skyscrapers, marching bands beat drumlines down Sixth Avenue, and thousands bundled up against the cold to witness a city tradition that, this year, felt both triumphant and tender. By 8:30 a.m., the first whistles pierced the crisp air. Families, tourists, and l