International
Trump meets with Zelenski at the Elysée, in a meeting organized by Macron
The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, met this Saturday with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, in a meeting in which the French head of state, Emmanuel Macron, who had invited them to the commemorations of the reopening of Notre Dame de Paris, also participated as host.
Zelenski arrived shortly after 17.30 local time (16.30 GMT) at the Elysée Palace, where Trump had gone three quarters of an hour before for a face-to-face with Macron.
The head of protocol of the Elysée, and not the French president, was the one who went out to receive the Ukrainian leader in the courtyard, where the Republican Guard was paying honors.
Zelenski quickly entered the building where Trump and Macron were waiting for him, with whom he posed for a few seconds with the tense gesture in front of the cameras before starting the discussions between the three.
Tariffs, Middle East and Ukraine
The president-elect of the United States and the head of the French state planned to talk about the tariffs that the former threatens to impose on products entering his country from the European Union, the war in the Middle East and, above all, the conflict in Ukraine.
An issue that obviously interests Zelenski more than anyone else, taking into account that the United States is his main supplier of weapons.
During the campaign for his election, Trump had underlined his intention to resolve the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. His attitude has raised uncertainty and fear among Europeans, and in particular in Kiev, for the possibility that this means the end of Washington’s military support.
Diplomatic solution for the war in Ukraine
Zelenski has assumed in recent weeks that his country will not be able to reconquer by arms the territory that Moscow has conquered and has insisted that a diplomatic solution must be sought.
After the meeting at the Elysée, which lasted just over an hour, the three greeted each other again in front of the cameras in the courtyard of the Elysée and the only handshake between Trump and Zelenski was seen.
The two got into their respective official cars to go to Notre Dame.
The three presidents were supposed to participate there from 18.15 local time (17.15 GMT) in the reopening ceremonies of Notre Dame, although in view of the accumulated delay, it is possible that this schedule will not be respected.
These ceremonies will be attended by a quarantine of heads of state and government. The protection device includes a contingent of more than 6,000 police and gendarmes and the establishment of a perimeter closed to the public on the island of the Cité, where the cathedral is located.
Macron’s guests to the ceremony will attend a dinner offered by the French president at the Elysée in the evening.
Macron talks about a historic day and asks to work for peace
The French head of state, Emmanuel Macron, has considered that this Saturday has been a “historic day” after having met the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to whom he has asked to continue “common action for peace and security.”
In a message on his X account, Macron congratulated himself on the meeting he has led to at the Elysée Palace between the three: “The United States, Ukraine and France. Together on this historic day. Gathered by Notre Dame. Let us continue common action for peace and security.”
That text is accompanied by an image of the three, who have been talking for just over half an hour, before participating in the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral, after five years of restoration due to the fire it suffered in April 2019.
In another previous message, Macron has referred to his face-to-face interview with Trump and has insisted on the “challenges” they have to overcome together and on the “pride in friendship” between his two countries.
The message also includes a short video of the beginning of the meeting of both leaders at the Elysée Palace, which has been held a few tens of minutes before the start of the reopening ceremony of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which is the reason for the presence of the president-elect of the United States in France.
A “great honor” for the French
In that video, Macron said he was “happy to welcome President-elect Donald Trump in Paris for the reopening of Notre Dame five years later. He was president when the cathedral caught fire.”
“It is a great honor for the French,” he added, before noting the “solidarity” that Trump had expressed for the Notre Dame fire.
Trump, for his part, has highlighted the “very good relationship” he has had with the French president and explained how Americans love and respect the French.
“Very honored to be here,” Trump told Macron, who has also expressed his willingness to work with him and has pointed out that “the world seems to be going crazy.”
Zelenski considers his interview with Trump “good and productive”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has considered “very good and productive” the meeting he has held in Paris with the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, and with the French head of state, Emmanuel Macron, sponsored by the latter, host of the celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame.
In a message on his X account, Zelenski has pointed out that “President Trump has been, as always, decisive. I thank you.”
He also wanted to thank Macron for organizing “this important meeting.”
International
Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka
Japanese police arrested a man on Thursday after he rammed his car into a group of seven schoolchildren in an apparent deliberate attack in the city of Osaka.
The children, who were on their way home from school, sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. All seven remained conscious, according to local authorities.
An Osaka police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the suspect is a 28-year-old man from Tokyo. The officer shared statements the man made after his arrest: “I was fed up with everything, so I decided to kill people by driving into several elementary school children,” the suspect reportedly said.
The man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The injured children, aged between seven and eight, included a seven-year-old girl who suffered a fractured jaw. The six other children—all boys—suffered minor injuries such as bruises and scratches and were undergoing medical evaluation.
Witnesses described the car as “zigzagging” before hitting the children. One witness told Nippon TV that a girl was “covered in blood” and the others appeared to have scratches.
Another witness said the driver, who was wearing a face mask, looked to be in shock when school staff pulled him from the vehicle.
Violent crimes are rare in Japan, though serious incidents do occur from time to time. In 2008, Tomohiro Kato drove a two-ton truck into pedestrians in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, then fatally stabbed several victims. Seven people were killed in that attack.
Internacionales
Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages
May Day protests in France were marked by a heavy police presence and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement in several cities.
In Paris, Lyon, and Nantes, thousands took to the streets to demand better wages, fairer working conditions, and to voice their dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
While the majority of the demonstrations remained peaceful, isolated confrontations broke out in some areas. Protesters threw objects at the police, prompting the use of tear gas and resulting in several arrests.
Videos showing police crackdowns circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism from labor unions and human rights advocates, who denounced the authorities’ response to the protests.
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.
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