International
The president of the ruling National Party of Uruguay resigns after the dissemination of chats

The president of the ruling National Party of Uruguay (PN), Pablo Iturralde, resigned from his position this Thursday after the dissemination of a series of conversations with former senator Gustavo Penadés, who remains in pretrial detention for allegations of child sexual abuse, for alleged benefits in the Prosecutor’s Office.
“By virtue of the disclosure of a private and personal conversation and in order not to compromise my colleagues or the institutional functioning of my party, I have made the decision to resign from my position as President of the Board of Directors of the National Party,” Iturralde wrote on his social network X account.
As published on Thursday by the local weekly Búsqueda, Iturralde celebrated with Penadés the appointment of prosecutor Alicia Ghione, whom he described as a “friend,” in the investigation for the allegations of child sexual abuse against the former senator after the accused complained about the appointment in the first instance of prosecutor Mariana Alfaro.
“(Alfaro) This is a great HDP. She was the one who asked for the raid on Azul for the subject of rape and is with the theme of Ocean. I threw him to kill him today and he shit himself. He understood the message. The one next is Ghione. If there is a logic, they would have to give it to it. Ghione is my friend,” Iturralde said in one of the published chats to which Penadés replied “hopefully.”
In another of the messages published by the weekly, the now former president of the PN informed Penadés about the appointment of Ghione in the case.
“They gave it to Alicia Ghione. He just called me. He asked me for your number. It is of total confidence. Great girl,” Iturralde said.
In that context, prosecutor Ghione said this Thursday in an interview with local radio Sarandí that she sleeps “in peace” and pointed against her colleagues in, in her opinion, a “enchastre campaign.”
“I would like colleagues to do law instead of dirty campaigns,” he said.
Finally, the pre-candidate and main favorite in the polls to represent the PN in the presidential elections of that country Álvaro Delgado valued on Thursday Iturralde’s decision to resign from the presidency of the party.
“Obviously today some private publications come to light (of) that we learned from the press and I found the decision of the chairman of the Board of Directors correct, prudent and courageous,” Delgado said.
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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