International
The extreme right pressures Netanyahu to start a war against Hezbollah
The far-right sector of the Israeli Government yesterday pressured the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, during the meeting of the Security Cabinet, to opt for a large-scale offensive against Hezbollah, in Lebanon where tension does not stop escalating.
These demands emerged after the message conveyed to the White House by the Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, during his visit to the United States this week, in which he indicated that Israel advocates a diplomatic solution with the pro-Irani militia before starting an open war.
“Have we not learned anything from the last 20 years of (diplomatic) agreements? In a year or two, they will rape our women and murder our children,” Ben Gvir said in leaked statements to several Israeli media.
“An agreement with Hezbollah will lead to another October 7. You can’t reach an agreement with the Nazis,” Ben Gvir said.
According to the Israeli newspaper The Times of Israel, Netanyahu said yesterday during the meeting that achieving a diplomatic agreement under “adequate conditions” is the best scenario for Israel.
The border between Israel and Lebanon is experiencing its biggest peak of tension since 2006 with an intense exchange of fire since October 8 that has been exacerbated in recent weeks.
Yesterday, Thursday, was another day marked by crossfire, since Hizbulah launched about thirty rockets against Israel after the death of three of its members in Israeli attacks.
This Friday, the Army reported the arrival of several anti-tank projectiles launched from Lebanon into the area of Galilee and specified that no victims have been reported.
“The soldiers identified terrorists who were operating within a military structure of Hezbollah in the Kfarkela area, in southern Lebanon. Our forces quickly attacked the structure and the terrorists,” they explain in a statement.
Hostilities in the partition have caused more than 60,000 Israelis living in the northern communities to remain evacuated more than eight months later, and the international community fears that this scenario will result in an open war.
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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