International
The Colombian Senate approves the pension reform of the Petro Government

The Senate plenary approved in the second debate the pension reform of the Government of Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, which will now have to go through the House of Representatives before becoming law.
“Yes, it was possible, it could, it could be,” shouted the bench of the ruling Historical Pact about the approval of the initiative, which also happens just two days after the massive protests against the Government.
The objective of the project is to maintain the retirement age at 57 for women and 62 for men, but to expand the system so that everyone can benefit from resources even without having contributed enough in salaries.
The initiative aims to expand the life annuity for those who have not contributed enough and a subsidy for people in conditions of extreme poverty and vulnerable.
The life annuity will be for those over 65 years of age who have contributed between 150 and 999 weeks, and it will depend on the weeks and the contribution given by the State.
“This is the equity that this bill achieves, but above all that three million older adults can begin to enjoy this benefit from July 1, 2025, which is the validity of this bill,” said the Minister of Labor, Gloria Inés Ramírez, after approval in the Senate.
He added: “We will be able to make Colombia move towards a country of rights, but above all where we are going to make both private funds and the public system fulfill their function: to give pension and protection to the old age of Colombia.”
Now the project must pass, before June 20, two debates in the House of Representatives to become law, a procedure in which the Government is very fair in time.
“Tomorrow we will be living in the House of Representatives (…) and we hope that between now and June 20, Colombia will have the possibility of having this law that we need so much,” Ramírez added.
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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