International

President of Mexico meets with U.S. Congressmen

Photo: Mexico's Presidency

March 20 |

The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, held a meeting of several hours this Sunday with a delegation of 12 Republican and Democratic legislators from the United States.

Through his social networks, the head of state said that “several issues were discussed with mutual respect and for the benefit of our peoples”.

AMLO was accompanied by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Marcelo Ebrard, and the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, who told the press that there was total agreement between the parties to jointly address addictions with a comprehensive strategy.

Ebrard stressed that the legislators told them that they want cooperation, collaboration and joint work to address the issue, a position of respect that is not related to the interferenceist criteria expressed by Republican legislators who proposed to entrust the U.S. Army with the fight against Mexican cartels.

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On the other hand, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Marcelo Ebrard, and the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, offered a brief balance of the meeting in which they emphasized that there was “total agreement” to go together in the fight against addictions with an integral strategy.

Ebrard pointed out that there was no discussion of the positions of Republican legislators and politicians who have proposed that U.S. soldiers enter national territory to fight drug traffickers.

In turn, Rosa Icela Rodríguez stressed that the drug and violence problem “has to be solved jointly (…) in a comprehensive manner”, because “we are allies, we are neighbors, we are partners and in some areas we are also family”.

He added that the Mexican side is concerned about the illegal trafficking of arms from the U.S. entering Mexico and fueling the problem of violence, while the U.S. side is concerned about the consumption of fentanyl and other drugs.

He recalled that President López Obrador has insisted on “dealing with the problem not only in a punitive way, but also in a social way, also looking at everything related to the prevention of addictions through media campaigns”.

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Another member of the Mexican Cabinet, the Secretary of National Defense, Major General Luis Crescencio Sandoval, explained all the works to be carried out on the northern border to improve customs control and reduce illegal drug and arms trafficking without hindering binational trade.

Ebrard pointed out that the recent kidnappings of Americans were not discussed, although the legislators were interested in the fact that the Mexican security cabinet meets daily to review the situation in the country.

He also appreciated that the U.S. legislators took away a good impression from the meeting and assured that binational cooperation will grow, which is a strategic interest of Mexico.

International

Pilot killed and two Pennsylvania state troopers injured in mid-air collision

A pilot was killed and two Pennsylvania state police officers were injured when a Cessna 150 airplane collided with the helicopter they were traveling in during a routine training exercise at a regional airport in the state.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro identified the officers as Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, members of the Pennsylvania State Police aviation unit. Both are expected to recover from their injuries, according to ABC.

The county coroner’s office identified the pilot as 57-year-old Paul Sokoloski.

George Bivens, acting commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, said the collision occurred at around 6:50 p.m. Wednesday. The helicopter was flying several feet above a grassy area near a runway at Carlisle Regional Airport when the small plane approached from behind.

According to investigators, the Cessna suddenly veered to the right moments before the collision, striking the helicopter’s tail rotor before also hitting its main rotor.

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The airplane crashed a short distance away and broke into several pieces, while the helicopter lost its tail and other components before crashing on its side.

Police said Corporal Corman opened a window and helped Trooper Mills escape from the helicopter because they feared the aircraft could catch fire.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

International

Argentina’s Milei Links Low Birth Rates to Abortion and Feminism

Argentine President Javier Milei on Thursday blamed feminism and the legalization of abortion for the country’s declining birth rate, arguing that the demographic trend is creating economic and pension-system challenges.

“We are paying a very high price for the madness of the green scarves,” Milei said during a speech at the Council of the Americas in Buenos Aires, referring to the symbol associated with the feminist movement and the campaign for legal abortion in Argentina.

According to Milei, Argentina is failing to reach the population growth and birth rates needed to maintain demographic replacement.

He also linked the decline in births to future challenges for the country’s pension system and workforce.

“That passion for killing children in the mother’s womb is costing us in terms of growth and pensions. It is also costing us in terms of human capital,” the president said.

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Milei has consistently opposed abortion, which has been legal in Argentina since 2020. The law was considered a major victory for the feminist movement across Latin America at the time of its approval.

In February 2024, lawmakers from Milei’s La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party introduced a bill seeking to repeal voluntary abortion legislation.

Under Argentina’s current law, abortion is legal, safe and free of charge up to the 14th week of pregnancy. After that period, it is permitted when the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman’s life or health, or when it resulted from rape.

Milei has repeatedly criticized abortion

The Argentine president has also criticized abortion and feminism in international forums. During his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2024, he attacked the feminist movement and denounced what he described as the “bloody agenda of abortion.”

His latest comments come amid growing concerns over Argentina’s demographic outlook and the potential long-term effects of declining birth rates on economic growth, the labor force and social security.

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International

Virginia Police Arrest Salvadoran Man in Great Falls Woman’s Killing

Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos, 19, identified by federal officials as an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, was arrested in connection with the death of Carmen Lizet Puch, 42, who was found dead Monday, the Fairfax County Police Department said.

Authorities said Cedillos-Campos and Puch were coworkers and were also involved in an “intimate relationship.”

“Our victim suffered numerous stab wounds in a truly brutal and indescribable manner,” Police Chief Kevin Davis said during a news conference Wednesday.

Investigators said surveillance video showed Cedillos-Campos at the restaurant where he and Puch worked, allegedly taking a fixed-blade knife, a pair of black latex gloves and a bottle of water before leaving.

“He left with the intent to harm and kill the victim,” Davis said.

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Cedillos-Campos was arrested Wednesday morning in Maryland and confessed to the killing, according to Davis. He is awaiting extradition to Virginia. Authorities have not said whether he has an attorney representing him.

The Department of Homeland Security said Cedillos-Campos had previously been arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 2024 after allegedly crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally near El Paso, Texas.