International
Military espionage uncovered in Ayotzinapa normalistas case
October 19 |
The Commission for Truth and Access to Justice in the Ayotzinapa Case (CoVAJ) released on Wednesday a series of documents showing that the Mexican Army possessed information on the possible whereabouts of the missing normalista students in Ayotzinapa, Mexican state of Guerrero.
The mechanism created to support the clarification of the disappearance of 43 students between September 26 and 27, 2014, revealed at least 18 declassified documents derived from the monitoring carried out on criminal actors in the region, such as the Guerreros Unidos, linked to the disappearance of the young people.
Several of these texts reveal the transfer of a group of 17 students from Iguala to the city of Chilpancingo, some 100 kilometers away, and that they were allegedly held in a cave, but it is not known if this has been included in the investigations or if the families have been informed.
According to the report, the Army “had knowledge of what was happening (…) That is to say, they had information in real time about the possible destinations of the missing students, as well as the people involved, their relationship with ministerial authorities and places where they were possibly sheltered.”
For its part, Mexico’s Interior Ministry stated in a press release that these files presented were already known to the investigation teams, such as the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI), but have now been published in full.
However, this report hints that the Army may have much more information about the case of the missing Ayotzinapa normalistas, but that it has not been handed over to the victims’ families and investigators despite numerous requests.
One of the proofs of this is that the documents were numbered consecutively. Thus, it can be concluded that between the documents ‘CRFI 1202’, ‘CRFI 1203’ and ‘CRFI 1204’, referring to communications tapped on September 27, 2014 and the following ‘CRFI 1212’, from the other day, a skip can be described in which papers are missing.
International
Study finds COVID-19 vaccines prevented 2.5 million deaths worldwide
COVID-19 vaccines prevented an estimated 2,533,000 deaths worldwide between 2020 and 2024, according to an international study led by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Italy and Stanford University in the United States, published in the journal JAMA Health Forum. Researchers calculated that one death was prevented for every 5,400 doses administered.
The analysis also found that the vaccines saved 14.8 million years of life, equivalent to one year of life gained for every 900 doses given.
The study, coordinated by Professor Stefania Boccia, revealed that 82% of the lives saved were people vaccinated before becoming infected with the virus, and 57% of deaths avoided occurred during the Omicron wave. In addition, 90% of the beneficiaries were adults over 60 years old.
“This is the most comprehensive analysis to date, based on global data and fewer assumptions about the evolution of the pandemic,” explained Boccia and researcher Angelo Maria Pezzullo.
International
Trump administration blasts judge’s ruling reinstating TPS for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump criticized a federal judge’s ruling on Friday that reinstated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua, stressing that the immigration program was never intended to serve as a “de facto asylum system.”
On Thursday, Judge Trina Thompson extended protections for about 7,000 Nepalese immigrants, whose TPS was set to expire on August 5. The ruling also impacts roughly 51,000 Hondurans and nearly 3,000 Nicaraguans, whose TPS protections were scheduled to end on September 8.
Immigrants covered by TPS had sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), alleging that the program’s termination was driven by “racial animus” and stripped them of protection from deportation.
DHS Deputy Undersecretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement saying the decision to end TPS was part of a mandate to “restore the integrity” of the immigration system and return the program to its original purpose.
“TPS was never conceived as a de facto asylum system; however, that is how previous administrations have used it for decades,” McLaughlin emphasized.
She also criticized Judge Thompson, calling the ruling “another example” of judges “stirring up claims of racism to distract from the facts.”
McLaughlin added that DHS would appeal the decision and take the legal battle to higher courts.
The Trump administration has also terminated TPS protections for approximately 160,000 Ukrainians, 350,000 Venezuelans, and at least half a million Haitians, among other immigrant groups.
International
Trump to build $200M ballroom at the White House by 2028
The U.S. government under President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that it will begin construction in September on a new 8,000-square-meter ballroom at the White House.
The announcement was made by Karoline Leavitt, the administration’s press secretary, during a briefing in which she explained that the expansion responds to the need for a larger venue to host “major events.”
“Other presidents have long wished for a space capable of accommodating large gatherings within the White House complex… President Trump has committed to solving this issue,” Leavitt told reporters.
The project is estimated to cost $200 million, fully funded through donations from Trump himself and other “patriots,” according to a government statement. Construction is scheduled to begin in September and is expected to be completed before Trump’s term ends in 2028.
The Clark Construction Group, a Virginia-based company known for projects such as the Capital One Arena and L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, D.C., has been selected to lead the project.
The new ballroom will be built on the East Wing of the White House, expanding the iconic residence with a space designed for state dinners, official ceremonies, and large-scale events.
Study finds COVID-19 vaccines prevented 2.5 million deaths worldwide
Trump administration blasts judge’s ruling reinstating TPS for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua
Costa Rica faces historic vote on lifting presidential immunity for Rodrigo Chaves
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
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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