International
Armed Forces to combat violence in Rio de Janeiro
October 25 |
Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said he will reinforce the federal government’s support to put an end to organized crime groups and militias that make life in Rio de Janeiro with the Armed Forces.
According to the Brazilian president “the problem of violence in Rio de Janeiro ends up being a problem for Brazil”.
In this sense, Lula da Silva affirmed that the structures of the Ministries of Justice and Defense will be used to help fight organized crime.
“We do not want to intervene Rio de Janeiro, we do not want to take authority away from the governor, from the mayor. When Rio has a problem, the problem is of all Brazil, just like the fires in the Amazon. We want to help without pyrotechnics, with concrete measures. We have to fight the militiamen,” said Lula.
For his part, Justice Minister Flávio Dino said Tuesday that he suggested to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to send army troops to the area of the conflict, attributed to organized crime.
“We are discussing the issue of the participation of the Armed Forces in some areas,” said Dino.
The measure follows an attack on 35 buses and a train on Monday in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, according to the attack was perpetrated by a group of militiamen.
The governor of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro, informed that after the attack 12 people were arrested under suspicion of terrorism crimes.
Of this group, six were released due to lack of evidence. The rest will be sent to federal prisons.
According to official sources, the criminal actions originated as a response to the death of Matheus da Silva Rezende, nephew of the head of the militia, Luis Antônio da Silva Braga, who operates in the area, after an operation by the Civil Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
Luis Antônio da Silva Braga, alias Zinho, is also wanted by Brazilian authorities.
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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