International
Milei denies that Scholz has mentioned the social impact of the reforms in Argentina
The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, denied on Monday that the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has mentioned to him, at the meeting they held in Berlin, the impact on the social situation of the strong reforms he is making to lower inflation.
“He never mentioned that to me,” “at no time,” Milei replied in an interview on Mitre radio in Argentina, since the official German statement indicated that Scholz stressed the importance of the “social compatibility” of the reforms undertaken by the president.
Milei met with the head of the German Government during the third stopover of his European tour – which the Argentine president describes as “an excellent trip” – which began in Madrid, continued in Hamburg, and after passing through Berlin, he will meet this Monday with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, the conservative Petr Fiala.
“Afar from questioning social policy, (the German authorities) weigh it, because they understand that in the face of an adjustment of this caliber and the initial conditions, social policy has had to be extremely good, because in the face of what we have done, it would have been a catastrophe if we had not acted correctly,” Milei explained in another section of the interview.
Milei has managed to reach the fiscal surplus in the first five months of the year, from a deficit of 6% of GDP in 2023, at the expense of a hard adjustment, which allowed him to slow inflation at a rate of 4.2% monthly last May and 276.4% year-on-on-year.
“It was a very productive meeting” and “extremely positive,” Milei said when talking about his meeting with Scholz, the first he has with a social democratic leader since he took the presidency, on December 10.
“The German minister asked us about how the economic program was working, given that (Germany) has an important weight in the IMF,” since Argentina intends to renegotiate (with the IMF) the financing program for more than $41 billion, and “what were the prospects for the future,” Milei explained.
“We have talked about the inconveniences of German companies in Argentina and how we were making progress in solving those problems,” Milei added.
Germany is the eighth foreign investor in Argentina, with interests in the manufacturing, mineral and oil extraction and retail and wholesale sectors, and with the presence of companies such as Siemens, Volkswagen and Bayer.
President Milei also referred to the “issue of natural resources, of extreme importance for Germany,” which “woust be motivating many investments to be made in Argentina,” since both leaders addressed global energy security and the importance of having critical minerals.
Milei mentioned that, as indicated in the official statement issued at the end of the meeting, Argentina’s accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the integration of Mercosur with the European Union (EU) was also discussed.
In addition, they talked about Argentina’s entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and agreed that Russia has in its hands to end the war of aggression against Ukraine.
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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