International
The cessation of the policeman who raided the house of Peruvian president Dina Boluarte was a violation, says her lawyer

The temporary dismissal of police Colonel Harvey Colchado, who was in charge of the raid on March 30 of the residence of the president of Peru, Dina Boluarte, is a violation of her rights, his lawyer denounced.
Colchado was until now the head of the High Complexity Crime Investigation Division (Diviac) of the National Police Unit of Peru (PNP), the unit that was in charge of the registration of the president’s residence, within the investigation of the so-called “Rólex case”, in reference to the luxury watches found to the president, as well as numerous cases of high-level corruption.
“We are very concerned about this disproportionate resolution (…) we are going to fight for the rights that correspond to my client and a job stability,” said lawyer Stefano Miranda on Canal N, adding that they are going to ask for the lifting of this “incongruent” measure that “blatantly violates” the rights of his representative.
The colonel was notified this Saturday in the offices of the Diviac that in an internal investigation serious and very serious infractions were detected, for lack of an operations plan in the raid on Dina Boluarte’s house.
He was also sanctioned for sharing on WhatsApp a photo of a birthday cake in which a police officer is seen kicking down the door of a house.
According to the disciplinary regulations, sharing this photo does not correspond to a serious or very serious offense, because it was her private mobile phone and that the image in question had nothing to do with the police operation and the president’s residence, argued her lawyer.
“The resolution of temporary separation from the position really has dirty hands,” he added.
The report of the Inspectorate General of the National Police points out that Colonel Colchado “has contravened the disciplinary regime of the PNP,” since the type of celebration of his birthday in the Diviac and the choice of the design of the cake “could be considered inappropriate and contrary to the principles of professional conduct expected of a senior PNP official.”
In addition to being interpreted as “a lack of respect for the presidential investiture and the institutions of the State.”
This cessation is in addition to the recent resignation of the Minister of the Interior Víctor Torres General, who was questioned for the participation of police officers in the raid.
Harvey Colchado has been part of the Diviac since its foundation in 2016, a unit that has gained importance in recent years due to its participation in popular cases of the fight against organized crime that involves senior officials, politicians, leaders and former presidential candidates.
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.
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