International
45 Years of Diplomacy: Xi Jinping and Biden pledge practical actions for bilaterali tyes

Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that he is willing to collaborate with the United States to promote stable bilateral relations during an exchange of congratulatory messages marking the anniversary of diplomatic ties, as reported by the Chinese state media.
In the communication between Xi and Joe Biden on the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations, the presidents called for “taking practical actions to promote stable, healthy, and sustainable development of bilateral relations,” according to the official CCTV network.
Xi emphasized, “I am willing to work with President Biden to continue navigating China-U.S. relations for the benefit of both countries and their peoples.”
The Chinese leader noted that “adhering to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation is the correct way for China and the United States to interact.”
President Xi also declared last Sunday in his New Year’s speech, through state media, that the country “will surely reunify.” “All Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be united by a common goal and share in the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” Xi said, according to the CCTV broadcast of the speech.
During a mid-November meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, Xi Jinping deemed the reunification of Taiwan “inevitable.”
China views the island as a province that has yet to be reunified with the rest of its territory since the end of the civil war in 1949. Beijing, which has not ruled out using force to achieve reunification, has exerted strong military and economic pressure on Taiwan since 2016 when Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party came to power, a move perceived by Beijing as pushing for independence. Taipei claims that Beijing has escalated military pressure in recent months leading up to the January presidential elections.
On the economic front, Xi considered the Chinese economy to be “more resilient and dynamic” than before.
International
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s Purse Stolen in D.C. Restaurant Heist

The purse of Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, was stolen on Sunday night at a restaurant in Washington, D.C., Fox News Digital confirmed through several agency sources.
The handbag, taken by a white male wearing a mask, reportedly contained $3,000 in cash along with personal documents, including her passport, keys, driver’s license, and DHS badge, according to an agency spokesperson.
“Her entire family was in town, including her children and grandchildren. She was celebrating her retirement by treating them to dinner, activities, and Easter gifts,” the spokesperson added.
Crime continues to be a significant issue in the U.S. capital, particularly theft. However, violent crime reached its lowest level in 30 years last year, according to the Office of the Attorney General at the time.
International
Pope Francis: The Quiet Architect Behind the U.S.-Cuba Thaw

When then-U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro announced the reestablishment of diplomatic relations in December 2014—after decades of hostility—there was a third figure present in both speeches: Pope Francis.
This thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations—later reversed by Donald Trump—was the result of behind-the-scenes negotiations personally encouraged by Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, just over a year after becoming head of the Catholic Church.
Upon learning the news of the breakthrough, the pontiff humbly stated, “This was made possible thanks to the ambassadors and to diplomacy,” which he called “a noble, very noble job.”
In 2015, months after the announcement, Raúl Castro visited the Vatican and met with the pope. Over time, Castro developed a fondness for Francis that he never had for his predecessors, Benedict XVI and John Paul II. “If the Pope continues talking like this, sooner or later I’ll start praying again and return to the Catholic Church—and I’m not joking,” said the younger Castro, who, like his brother Fidel (1926–2016), had been educated by Jesuits—the same order to which Pope Francis belonged.
Pope Francis visited Cuba later that year. Just days before his arrival, the Cuban government announced the pardon of 3,522 common prisoners as an act of clemency.
While in Havana, the pope met with Fidel Castro, who gave him a first edition of the book Fidel and Religion by Brazilian friar and liberation theologian Frei Betto.
Criticism from the Opposition
Francis’s diplomatic approach also drew criticism from parts of the Cuban opposition. In a 2022 interview with Univision, the pope revealed he had “a human relationship” with Raúl Castro.
International
Dominican Republic Declares Three Days of Mourning for Pope Francis

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader has declared three days of national mourning starting Tuesday following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88 in his residence at the Casa Santa Marta.
In an official decree, Abinader highlighted the pope’s legacy “as a global leader who promoted significant reforms within the Catholic Church and was known for his humility, openness to dialogue, and commitment to peace among nations.”
During the mourning period, the national flag will be flown at half-staff at military facilities and public buildings.
According to a statement from the Office of the Presidency, although Pope Francis never visited the Dominican Republic during his papacy, he maintained a close relationship with the country. He expressed solidarity and empathy during difficult times, including offering prayers for the victims of the recent tragedy at a Santo Domingo nightclub on April 8, which claimed 232 lives and left more than 180 injured.
-
Central America5 days ago
Nicaraguan Exiles to Mark 7th Anniversary of 2018 Protests with Global Commemorations
-
International5 days ago
Dominican ‘False Hero’ Arrested for Faking Role in Nightclub Collapse That Killed 231
-
Central America3 days ago
UN complaint filed against Costa Rica over detention of migrant children
-
International3 days ago
ACLU seeks emergency court order to stop venezuelan deportations under Wartime Law
-
Central America2 days ago
Senator Van Hollen Meets with Deported MS-13 Member in El Salvador; Trump and Bukele React
-
International2 days ago
Thousands rally nationwide against Trump’s threat to U.S. democracy
-
International2 days ago
Pope Francis Appears for Easter Blessing, Calls for Peace and Religious Freedom
-
Central America11 hours ago
Cardinal Rodríguez to Attend Funeral of Pope Francis: “He Was Very Dear to Me”
-
Central America11 hours ago
Nicaragua’s Ortega and Murillo Mourn Pope Francis, Acknowledge ‘Difficult’ Relationship
-
International11 hours ago
Dominican Republic Declares Three Days of Mourning for Pope Francis
-
International11 hours ago
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s Purse Stolen in D.C. Restaurant Heist
-
International11 hours ago
Pope Francis: The Quiet Architect Behind the U.S.-Cuba Thaw