International
Paramilitaries kill more than 100 people in a village in central Sudan, according to an NGO
The paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (FAR) killed more than 100 people on Wednesday during the assault on the village of Wad al Nura, in the central state of Gezira, causing chaos and the displacement of hundreds of people, denounced the resistance committee of the area.
“The brutality against unarmed civilians caused the death of 104 people and more than 90 injured, in a new massacre that adds to the crimes of the Rapid Support Forces,” this citizen organization in charge of counting victims and displaced persons in the state of Gezira reported in a statement.
According to the note, FAR fighters bombed Wad al Nura with heavy weapons “for hours” and, subsequently, broke into the village in combat vehicles and motorcycles, from where they “fired indiscriminately at the citizens.”
The resistance committee reported that the paramilitaries committed various “massacres” in Gezira since in December they took control of several areas, as well as the state capital, Wad Madani, which until then had become one of the places of refuge for hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the war.
He also accused the Sudanese Army of “negligence” after the citizens asked the military for help in the face of the advance of the FAR, to which the Armed Forces only made some air raids.
“No ground force intervened to save the lives of civilians, despite the presence of a military base in an area not far away,” the resistance committee said.
According to the NGO, the FAR “invaded” the village and looted the properties and vehicles of the civilians before withdrawing from the area to “loot other adjacent villages” from Wad al Nura.
Both the Sudanese Army and the paramilitaries have accused them by numerous international organizations of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity – including the use of sexual violence and ethnic cleansing – which has led to sanctions by countries such as the United States for both opposing parties.
The Army and the FAR have been facing each other in a war since April 15, 2023 that has resulted in at least 30,000 deaths, according to the Sudanese Medical Union, and has caused the internal and external displacement of more than 9 million people.
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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