International
Dominican Republic gives Haiti 48 hours to resolve border river conflict

September 12 |
The Government of the Dominican Republic gave this Tuesday a 48-hour ultimatum to Haiti to resolve the conflict that has arisen around the border river, called Masacre, otherwise it will order the total closure of the land, sea and air borders.
Luis Abinader’s government made the decision in the midst of what they call the threat posed by the plan of Haitian groups to divert the waters of the Masacre River and is a new measure, part of those adopted Monday morning by the Dominican National Security Council.
The package of measures also includes the definitive suspension of the issuance of visas to Haitians, “until further notice”, and the prohibition of entry into the country of all those involved in the conflict.
Although Luis Abinader’s ultimatum enters its first day on Tuesday, the total closure of the border with Dajabón continues without variation.
Despite the escalation, Abinader, said he was confident that “good sense” would prevail and that there would be a solution to the Haitian construction of a canal to divert water from the bordering Masacre River.
“I do not want to be optimistic and naive (…) I hope that good sense will prevail between now and Thursday”, otherwise “we would have no other alternative”, said the president.
The President insisted that the Haitian government does not agree with the construction of the canal either, “it does not have the authorization nor the official support and resources”, since it is “a private canal of Haitian businessmen” to take the water to a reservoir and, from there, to distribute it to lands and farms owned by the group.
However, he reiterated, given the “situation of ungovernability” in the neighboring country, the Dominican Republic does not have “a valid interlocutor” on this matter and the Haitian government is not in a position to stop the “unacceptable” problem of the canal.
The Haitian government has remained silent on the decision of the National Security Council of the Dominican Republic.
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.
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