International
The 55th General Assembly of the OAS will seek to “build resilient and inclusive economies”
The 55th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), to be held in Antigua and Barbuda this June, will focus on “building resilient and inclusive economies in the Americas,” the Permanent Council approved on Wednesday.
At an OAS meeting held at the headquarters in Washington, the Member States approved that this would be the subject of the next assembly, proposed by the ambassador of the country that will serve as the headquarters, Ronald Sanders.
“We believe that this issue coincides with urgent regional concerns,” Sanders said during his speech.
Between June 25 and 27 of this year, the capital of the archipelago, Saint John, will host this annual assembly of the OAS.
On the other hand, the election of that country as the place for the event was agreed by acclamation at the previous congress, which took place in the Paraguayan city of Luque last June.
“Allow me to thank all the delegations and Member States for their unanimous support and support for hosting this important meeting. Antigua and Barbuda hope to welcome you all in three months,” the ambassador said.
“We hope that the warmth of our Caribbean environment will promote harmonious debates, as well as fruitful and positive results for our hemisphere,” he added. “Our discussions will foster stronger ties and produce significant results.”
After the proposal and that no country objected to anything about it, the outgoing secretary general of the OAS, Luis Almagro, and the rest of the members of the table signed together with Sanders the resolution that confirms the issue and the date of the conclave.
In addition, this will be the first General Assembly of the future leader of the organization, the Surinamese Albert Ramdin, who was elected on March 10 by acclamation and who will assume office in May.
Therefore, Ramdin will be the first Caribbean secretary general of the organization and his debut will coincide with the return of the meeting to the Caribbean.
In 2002, Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, hosted the 32nd General Assembly. Subsequently, in 2006 and 2016, respectively, the Dominican Republic hosted the inter-American meeting.
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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