International
Russia prohibits internet access to 81 European media
Russia announced today that it prohibits the broadcasting and access from its territory by internet to 81 European media, four of them Spanish, including the EFE Agency.
The measure is the response to the restrictions adopted on May 17 by the Council of the European Union against three Russian media – the RIA Nóvosti Agency and the newspapers Izvestia and Rossískaya Gazeta – and which entered into force today, Tuesday.
The list published on its website by the Russian Foreign Ministry includes the websites of the EFE Agency (efe.com) and El País, El Mundo and Televisión Española.
Regarding the media of 25 countries of the European Union (EU), “response measures are introduced to limit the issuance and access to their resources on the Internet from the territory of the Russian Federation.”
The statement emphasizes that the restrictions are adopted against means that “systemately disseminate unreliable information about the progress of the special military operation,” as known in Russia for the military campaign deployed in Ukraine since February 2022.
Among the 81 affected media there are also headlines such as the German newspaper Die Zeit and the magazine Der Spiegel; the Italians La Stampa and La Repubblica; the Portuguese Publico; the French Le Monde and Liberation; or the Dutch magazine Algemeen Dagblad.
It also includes television channels such as the Italian RAI; the French LC1 and Arte; the Irish RTE; the Portuguese RTP Internacional; the Dutch Nos or the Austrian ORF; in addition to the radio station Radio France.
In addition to EFE, the agencies whose access in Russia will be restricted are the French Agence France-Press and Agence Europe.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that it had repeatedly warned at different levels that “politically motivated harassment” of Russian journalists and the “unfounded” prohibition of Russian media in the territory of the European Union “would not go unanswered.”
Moscow emphasizes that, as Brussels chose to choose the path of “escalation,” in this way it forced the Russian authorities to adopt “symmetrical and proportionate measures.”
“The responsibility for this development of events lies exclusively with the leaders of the EU and the countries that support this bloc,” he said.
In mid-May, the foreign spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, warned that her country would take retaliatory measures against Western correspondents in its territory if the EU restricted the work of the Russian media.
“Until now they felt our love, now they will also have to feel our reprisals,” he said at a press conference.
He recalled that Moscow “will respond suddenly and in an extremely painful way for Westerners.”
“If even if it is a single Russian medium is subject to unfounded restrictions, it will have an impact on your colleagues here, in Russia. I’m referring to Western journalists,” he said.
Since the beginning of the war, Russia has restricted the access of foreign journalists to the activities organized by the Russian State and in some cases did not extend the work visa for some Western correspondents.
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
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