International
The US makes “significant progress” with Saudi Arabia to increase defense cooperation
The United States made “significant progress” with Saudi Arabia to increase cooperation between the two countries in defense, part of the “megapact” that Washington has been promoting for months and that could lead to the normalization of relations between Israel and the Saudi kingdom.
These advances occurred during the meeting held this weekend in Saudi Arabia by the White House National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, and the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohamed bin Salman, as John Kirby, one of the White House spokesmen, explained to the press on Monday.
Kirby said that the agreement “is closer than ever” and that the text that details the terms of it is already “almost finalized.”
The spokesman refused to set a date for the official announcement of those agreements, but assured that this weekend a “historic progress” was achieved in the elements of the so-called “megapact” that concern both Saudi Arabia and the United States.
“We believe that, after this weekend, we have achieved a set of practically definitive texts on some of those bilateral agreements between the United States and Saudi Arabia,” Kirby emphasized.
In a similar tone, the Saudi Government has pronounced itself, which this Sunday, through the official SPA agency, indicated that the draft of the “strategic agreements” is already “almost finished.”
The details of this “megapact” that Washington has been promoting for months and that took a back seat after the October 7 attack by the Islamist group Hamas, which caused 1,200 deaths and triggered an Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip with more than 35,000 fatalities, have not yet been made public.
However, those negotiations have been reactivated in recent days and have gained greater importance within the framework of the talks to end the war in Gaza and rebuild the enclave.
Specifically, according to the details revealed by the US media, progress has been made in the negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the United States for the signing of a defense pact that allows the Saudi kingdom to strengthen its position vis-à-vis Iran, which it considers the main threat in the region.
That pact would allow Riyadh to have long-term access to advanced weapons, without its transfer being interrupted by diplomatic incidents, as it tried to be part of the Democratic bench of the US Congress after the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Saudi Arabia has also pressed for the agreement to allow it to enrich uranium, although Washington could impose some conditions to prevent the door from being opened to a possible nuclear weapons program.
In exchange for those concessions, Saudi Arabia would agree to limit Chinese technology in its most sensitive networks, in what is perceived as an attempt by Washington to limit the impact of the Asian giant in the region.
Once Washington and Riyadh reach an agreement, the next step would be to get Israel to agree to create a Palestinian state and end the war in Gaza.
However, the creation of that Palestinian State seems incompatible with the political positions of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who has publicly opposed it and whose permanence in power depends on the support of far-right politicians who support the creation of more Israeli settlements in territories that the Palestinians claim as their own.
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
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