International
Subcommittee on Constitutional Accusations of Congress meets today for ‘Los Niños’ case
February 13 |
This Monday, February 13, the Sub-Commission of Constitutional Accusations of the Congress of the Republic will meet to continue with the investigation process for the case of ‘Los Niños’. The meeting has been scheduled for eight o’clock in the morning and the hearings will continue in order to clarify the alleged crimes against the parliamentarians of Acción Popular.
The constitutional complaint reaches congressmen Raúl Doroteo, Juan Carlos Celis, Jorge Flores, Darwin Espinoza, Ilich López and Elvis Vergara, all members of the political party Acción Popular. The legislators are being accused as alleged perpetrators of the crimes of aggravated collusion, improper passive bribery, criminal organization and influence peddling.
According to Parliament’s agenda, this session will include the testimonies of several civilian witnesses in the case. Beder Camacho, Salatiel Marrufo, Biberto Castillo and congressmen Hilda Portero and Silvia Monteza have also been called to participate.
Anibal Torres, former president of the Council of Ministers, participated as a witness in the sub-commission of Constitutional Accusations of the Congress on the ‘Los Niños’ case. The former premier assured that he is not aware that the denounced legislators have received any benefit from former president Pedro Castillo.
“The congressmen who have participated, have intervened, have not talked to me, except for some rare exceptions. Time is not enough because we are collecting the concerns of the local authorities, as well as those of the citizens,” he said.
The denunciation filed by Congresswoman Patricia Chirinos highlights that those investigated colluded with Pedro Castillo to benefit with works if they supported him in the event of an eventual vacancy and thus the former president would remain in power.
For his part, PNP Colonel Harvey Colchado remarked that the hypothesis of the Prosecutor’s Office indicates that the congressmen benefited in the Produce ministry, due to the fact that in the vacancy debate against former president Pedro Castillo, the so-called ‘Los Niños’ voted against the initiative, in spite of their party’s position.
According to Harvey Colchado’s version, Congressman Darwin Espinoza was the one who recommended the Minister of Production, Jorge Palomino, to former President Pedro Castillo to occupy the position so that everything would have a single “connection”.
“The congressman at first attacked the Government and the Minister of Production because they had appointed a minister that they had not recommended. The former president Pedro Castillo asked the congressman Darwin Espinoza to give him a month to change the head of the sector and place the one he believes convenient, being appointed Jorge Palomino”, he mentioned.
The member of the Special Team against Corruption of Power made it known in front of the Sub-Commission of Constitutional Accusations that, last September 7, 2021, the congressmen called ‘The Children’ arrived at the Government Palace to hold a meeting with Pedro Castillo; however, he was absent due to the health condition of his youngest daughter.
In addition, it was mentioned that this would not be the first time that these congressmen held meetings with the former president in strict privacy.
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
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Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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