International
The United States will compensate the victims of former doctor Larry Nassar with 138.7 million dollars
The United States Department of Justice confirmed that it has reached a conciliation agreement worth 138.7 million dollars to resolve the 139 claims of victims of sexual abuse by the former doctor of the U.S. gymnastics team. Larry Nassar.
“These agreements will resolve administrative claims against the United States” since the FBI “did not carry out an adequate investigation of Nassar’s conduct,” the Department of Justice said in a statement.
For almost two decades and until 2016, when he was arrested, Nassar sexually abused hundreds of victims under the pretext of performing medical treatments.
In July 2021, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Justice issued a report in which it criticized certain aspects of the FBI’s response and the investigation of the accusations against Nassar.
“For decades, Lawrence Nassar abused his position, betraying the trust of those who were under his medical care and supervision and escading accountability,” the interim deputy attorney general, Benjamin C., said in the statement. Mizer.
The accusations, he added, “should have been taken seriously from the beginning.”
“While these agreements will not remedy the damage that Nassar inflicted, our hope is that they will help provide the victims of their crimes with some of the critical support they need to continue healing,” he said.
Nassar, 60, worked as a doctor on the United States sports gymnastics team for 18 years and also served at the University of Michigan.
In 2013, the United States sports gymnastics federation informed the FBI that three athletes had declared themselves to be abused by Nassar, but the agency decided not to carry out a formal investigation.
In 2017, Nassar pleaded guilty to abusing 10 of the more than 265 athletes who reported abuse.
Among its victims are prominent athletes such as Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Sabrina Vega, Ashton Locklear, Kyla Ross and Alyssa Baumann.
Michigan State University, at whose clinic Larry Nassar worked, already agreed in 2018 to a payment of 500 million dollars for the women and girls who reported sexual abuse.
For their part, the federation and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic committees reached a conciliation with the victims in 2021 for 380 million dollars.
Central America
Senator Van Hollen Meets with Deported MS-13 Member in El Salvador; Trump and Bukele React
U.S. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, representing the state of Maryland, held a meeting in El Salvador with deported MS-13 gang member Kilmar Ábrego García, a member of the criminal group classified by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization.
“Kilmar Ábrego García, miraculously resurrected from the ‘extermination camps’ and ‘torture chambers,’ now sipping margaritas with Senator Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!” wrote President Nayib Bukeleon X (formerly Twitter), sharing photos of Van Hollen, Ábrego García, and a lawyer sitting together at a Salvadoran hotel.
The deported gang member is seen wearing a plaid shirt and a flat-brimmed cap, seated at a table with glasses and coffee cups. The senator also shared images of the meeting on his own social media accounts.
Bukele reaffirmed that Ábrego will remain in El Salvador and will not be returned to the United States.
“Now that his health has been confirmed, he has earned the honor of remaining under the custody of El Salvador,” Bukele added.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the senator’s meeting with Ábrego on Truth Social, calling Van Hollen “a fool” for advocating for Ábrego’s return to the U.S.
International
Pope Francis Appears for Easter Blessing, Calls for Peace and Religious Freedom
Pope Francis, still recovering from pneumonia, appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Easter Sunday and, with a faint voice, wished a “Happy Easter” to the thousands of faithful gathered to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.
A month after being discharged from a lengthy hospital stay, the presence of the 88-year-old pontiff had remained uncertain, with the Vatican not confirming his attendance ahead of time.
Eventually, the pope made a brief appearance in a wheelchair shortly after 12:00 p.m. (10:00 GMT) to deliver his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing (“to the city and to the world”).
Although no longer wearing an oxygen cannula, the Argentine Jesuit relied on a close aide to read his Easter message, which touched on major global conflicts.
Francis condemned the “dramatic and unworthy humanitarian crisis” in Gaza and called for a ceasefire, while also expressing concern over the “growing climate of antisemitism spreading across the globe.”
He further emphasized the importance of religious freedom and freedom of thought, stating that without mutual respect, “peace is not possible.”
International
Thousands rally nationwide against Trump’s threat to U.S. democracy
Thousands of protesters gathered on Saturday (April 19, 2025) in major cities like New York and Washington, as well as in small communities across the United States, in a second wave of demonstrations against President Donald Trump. The crowds denounced what they view as growing threats to the country’s democratic ideals.
In New York City, demonstrators of all ages rallied in front of the Public Library near Trump Tower, holding signs accusing the president of undermining democratic institutions and judicial independence.
Many protesters also criticized Trump’s hardline immigration policies, including mass deportations and raids targeting undocumented migrants.
“Democracy is in grave danger,” said Kathy Valyi, 73, the daughter of Holocaust survivors. She told AFP that the stories her parents shared about Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1930s Germany “are happening here now.”
In Washington, demonstrators voiced concern over what they see as Trump’s disregard for long-standing constitutional norms, such as the right to due process.
Senator Van Hollen Meets with Deported MS-13 Member in El Salvador; Trump and Bukele React
Pope Francis Appears for Easter Blessing, Calls for Peace and Religious Freedom
Thousands rally nationwide against Trump’s threat to U.S. democracy
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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