International
Orsi inaugurated as Uruguay’s leader, vows to tackle crime and inequality
Yamandú Orsi was sworn in as Uruguay’s President this Saturday, outlining his top priorities for his administration: the economy, security, poverty, and the search for those disappeared during the dictatorship.
The former presidential candidate from the Frente Amplio delivered a 25-minute speech before the Uruguayan General Assembly, laying out the broad guidelines of his policies while signaling openness to dialogue with the political opposition.
At the beginning of his address, he acknowledged 40 years of democracy in Uruguay but emphasized that the scars of the dictatorship remain.
“This is why it is both fair and essential to uphold our commitment to freedom, truth, and justice,” he stated, drawing applause from the audience.
His commitment to finding those who disappeared during the dictatorship resurfaced at the end of his speech:
“Our democracy will be healthier the day every Uruguayan family knows where their missing loved ones are.”
On the economic front, Orsi emphasized Uruguay’s legal security and macroeconomic stability.
“The positive accumulation of past efforts has made Uruguay a country with stable rules, where contracts are honored, where the state fulfills its commitments, and where macroeconomic stability is a state policy,” he highlighted.
He acknowledged differences in economic policy approaches, stating:
“We may disagree on the tools to achieve a fairer distribution of national wealth—something we deeply value—but we will not ignore the economic principles Uruguay has upheld since the restoration of democracy.”
Regarding security, Orsi took a firm stance:
“There will be no leniency toward crime or its repression,” he declared, reaffirming his administration’s unwavering commitment to combating organized crime, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
However, he also warned that a purely repressive approach would be insufficient:
“We know well that any solution will be incomplete—and even demagogic—if we fail to address the many root causes of violence.”
International
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.
During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.
“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.
“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”
Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.
On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.
International
Vatican releases special “Sede Vacante” stamps ahead of papal transition
he Vatican’s post offices and select collector shops began selling special edition stamps this week to mark the period between the death of Pope Francis and the election of his successor.
Known as “Sede Vacante” stamps, they feature an image used on official Vatican documents during the interregnum between popes — two crossed keys without the papal tiara. These stamps went on sale Monday and will remain valid for postal use only until the new pontiff appears at the window overlooking St. Peter’s Square.
Until then, they can be used to send letters, postcards, and parcels. “Once the new pope is elected, the stamps lose their postal validity, but their collectible value rises,” said Francesco Santarossa, who runs a collectors’ shop across from St. Peter’s Square.
The Vatican has issued the stamps in four denominations: €1.25, €1.30, €2.45, and €3.20. Each is inscribed with “Città del Vaticano” and “Sede Vacante MMXXV” — Latin for “Vacant See 2025.”
International
Conclave to choose pope Francis’ successor could begin in early may
The conclave, which in the coming weeks must choose the successor to Pope Francis, will strictly follow a precise protocol refined over centuries.
The 135 cardinal electors, all under the age of 80, will cast their votes four times a day — except on the first day — until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority. The result will be announced to the world through the burning of the ballots with a chemical that produces the eagerly awaited white smoke, accompanied by the traditional cry of “Habemus Papam.”
The start date for the conclave could be announced today, as the cardinals are set to hold their fifth meeting since the pope’s passing. Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich suggested it could begin on May 5 or 6, following the traditional nine days of mourning. According to German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the conclave could last only “a few days.”
Although the late Argentine pontiff appointed the majority of the cardinal electors, this does not necessarily ensure the selection of a like-minded successor. Francis’ leadership style differed significantly from that of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, a German theologian who was less fond of large public gatherings. It also marked a contrast with the popular Polish pope, John Paul II.
The Argentine Jesuit’s reformist papacy drew strong criticism from more conservative sectors of the Church, who are hoping for a doctrinally focused shift. His tenure was marked by efforts to combat clerical sexual abuse, elevate the role of women and laypeople, and advocate for the poor and migrants, among other causes.
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
Vatican releases special “Sede Vacante” stamps ahead of papal transition
Conclave to choose pope Francis’ successor could begin in early may
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