International
European leaders: there is an “imperive need” to improve military and civilian preparedness in the face of “threats”
The leaders of the European Union have stressed at their Brussels summit the “imperive need” to improve and coordinate military and civilian preparation and strategic crisis management in the face of “a panorama of threats.”
In this sense, the heads of state and government of the Twenty-seven invited the European Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, to propose actions to strengthen the preparation and response to crises at the EU level.
These proposals must have “an approach that includes the whole of society and all the dangers, taking into account the responsibilities and competences of the Member States, with a view to a future preparation strategy,” according to the text of the conclusions of the two-day summit held in the Community capital.
Just on the eve of the summit, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, commissioned former President of Finland Sauli Niinisto to prepare a report to strengthen citizen preparation for defense, in which she wants him to replicate her country’s model to the entire bloc.
“We have a lot to learn from Finland,” the German said at a press conference on Wednesday, in which she praised the “specific mentality” of her country in terms of citizen preparation for defense and called for it to be adopted in Europe.
The head of the Community Executive stressed that Finland “has learned to live with a neighbor as unpredictable and aggressive” as Russia, with whom it shares more than 1,300 kilometers of border.
It is a fact that “has shaped its society” through a citizen defense strategy that “concerns everyone” to be prepared for all kinds of threats, including cyberattacks.
Von der Leyen stressed that in the Finnish model “every part of society is able to help safeguard vital functions in times of crisis,” as well as “guarantee a basic supply for the population and help the defense forces in their tasks.”
“The Finnish model is a set of experiences through history for centuries as a neighbor of Russia,” he explained before pointing out that “in Finnish society, each of the citizens defends the country.”
For his part, former President Niinisto stressed that preparation for security and defense is a “very broad” area and, therefore, it should also be the report he prepares for the next European Commission that comes out of the June elections, with aspects that go beyond “conventional” military defense and involve aspects such as cyber resilience or the use of drones.
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
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Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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