International
Unknown assassin murders photojournalist in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
November 17 |
The Chihuahua state prosecutor’s office confirmed on Thursday the murder of photojournalist Ismael Villagómez Tapia, who worked as a photojournalist for the newspaper El Heraldo de Juárez and at night worked as a cab driver for the app.
According to statements by some colleagues on social networks, “Tiger”, as Villagómez was nicknamed, was left lifeless at the wheel of the unit and was executed by unknown gunmen. Initially, it was reported that Villagómez had been shot in the left side, neck and head.
Hermann Adrián Pérez Rico, regional coordinator of the Prosecutor’s Office’s Crimes Against Life Unit, specified that the alerts reached the officers of the State Investigation Agency, as the inhabitants of the area heard about 10 gunshots and reported it to the local police shortly before two o’clock in the morning.
Several colleagues and people close to the photojournalist condemned the murder on social networks and demanded the Mexican government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to bring justice in this new case that exposes the environment of insecurity faced by journalists.
Reporter Luis Cardona, who had ties of friendship with the victim, wrote on the social network X: “A friend of mine for many years, loved by the entire profession in Ciudad Juarez, was murdered early this morning aboard his car in the Francisco Sarabia neighborhood,” he said.
“We demand that the authorities carry out immediate investigations to clarify the facts and find those responsible”, demanded the civil association Propuesta Cívica, defender of freedom of expression.
The Municipal Public Security Department immediately went to the scene and confirmed the death of the photojournalist, whose body was found in the driver’s seat.
Throughout his career Villagómez Tapia also worked for Periódico Norte and an evening newspaper in the city of Nogales, Sonora.
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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