International

The U.S. Senate lays the rules that sought to protect access to contraceptives

The U.S. Senate overthrew on Wednesday a bill that sought to protect access to contraceptives and that will not continue its parliamentary procedure due to opposition from the Republican bench.

The regulation in question, called the ‘Right to Contraception Act’, had no chance of moving forward since it required a majority of 60 votes and the Democrats have 47 seats, although they usually have the support of four independent legislators.

The procedure was slowed down by 51 votes in favor and 39 against.

The leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, had decided to put it to a vote as a way to challenge Republicans to publicly position themselves against access to those medicines that almost all American women will ever use in their lives.

Among those who voted in favor were two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, who usually have more moderate positions than their co-religionists.

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Shortly after the vote, U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirmed in a statement that both he and Vice President Kamala Harris believe that “women in each state should have the freedom to make profoundly personal decisions about their health, including the right to decide whether they want to form or expand their family, and when to do so.”

Therefore, he promised that his Government will continue to work with the Democrats of Congress to protect the reproductive rights of women and try to restore at the federal level the protections against abortion that the Supreme Court annulled almost two years ago, which left the policies in the hands of each state in this regard.

Almost 90% of voters say that Americans should have the right to make decisions about contraception and choose their contraceptives without government interference, according to a recent poll by the progressive firm Impact Research.

Former US President and Republican pre-candidate Donald Trump (2017-2021) said in May in an interview with a Pittsburgh television that he was open to supporting regulations on contraception and that his campaign would publish a policy on the issue “very soon,” but then he retracted those statements.

In addition, the head of Biden’s campaign, Julie Chávez Rodríguez, warned on Tuesday at a press conference about the danger posed by Trump’s “extremism” to women’s reproductive rights and said that this will be one of the topics that Biden will bring to the debate he will lead with Trump on June 27, organized by CNN.

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In May, Trump said during an interview with a Pittsburgh television that he was open to supporting regulations on contraception and that his campaign would publish a policy on the issue “very soon,” comments that he later said had been misinterpreted.

Specifically, on his Truth Social platform, Trump assured that he “has never advocated or will advocate” for restricting the contraceptive pill and other contraceptives.

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.

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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.