World

Pope Leo XIV has kicked off his first papal visit to Latin America, an ambitious 11-day trip across Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. Coming just weeks after lung cancer surgery, the pontiff aims to reconnect with the world’s largest Catholic region at a time when the Church faces a significant decline in followers and the rapid rise of evangelical denominations.

South Africans have cast their ballots in a crucial local government election marked by widespread frustration over crumbling infrastructure and high unemployment. As vote counting begins across 257 councils, major cities are bracing for complex coalition governments, further challenging the ruling ANC's historical dominance.