International
Guterres: “It’s time to give the Palestinians hope that there will be a Palestinian state”
The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, assured this Saturday that it is necessary to agree on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, release the hostages in the hands of the Islamist group Hamas and give hope for the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
“It’s time to create hope for the Palestinian people that there will be a Palestinian state,” Guterres said at a press conference from Arish airport in Egypt, after visiting the Rafah border crossing, which connects the Sinai peninsula with the Gaza Strip.
The head of the UN said that “everything possible” must be done to avoid an Israeli offensive in the Palestinian town of Rafah, in the southern end of the Strip and where about 1.5 million displaced people are crowded by the war that began on October 7.
“Everyone is going to assume their responsibilities with History. For me, it is clear: We need to avoid a catastrophic situation in Rafah,” Guterres said, adding that there is “a clear consensus” between the United States, the European Union, the UN and the international community against that ground offensive.
Asked how the effects of an offensive in Rafah could be mitigated, the diplomat replied: “Don’t ask me how I can guarantee that the Israeli Government does anything, because it is clear that the Israeli Government does not normally do what I ask.”
Guterres described the obstacles to the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip as “moral outrage”. According to the Egyptian authorities, more than 7,000 trucks loaded with assistance are waiting for instructions from Israel to enter the Palestinian enclave.
“A long line of rescue trucks blocked on one side of the door, and the long shadow of hunger on the other side. This is more than tragic. It’s a moral outrage,” Guterres said at a press conference from the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, which connects the Egyptian Sinai peninsula with the Gaza Strip.
The head of the UN, who today made his second visit to the border with Gaza since the beginning of the war on October 7, also warned against an Israeli operation in the Palestinian town of Rafah, in the extreme south of the Strip and where about 1.5 million displaced Gazans are crowded.
“All this shows that it’s time for an immediate ceasefire. I say it again. It’s time for a strong commitment by Israel to full and unrestricted access to humanitarian goods throughout Gaza,” Guterres urged.
He also appealed to the “spirit of compassion” of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan fasting for “the immediate release of all hostages” in the hands of the Islamist group Hamas.
“It is monstrous that after so much suffering for so many months the Palestinians in Gaza celebrate Ramadan while Israeli bombs continue to fall, bullets continue to fly, artillery continues to strike and humanitarian assistance continues to face obstacles behind obstacles,” the Portuguese lamented.
Upon his arrival in Egypt, Guterres met with the governor of the province of Northern Sinai, Mohamed Shosha, who told him that Israel “is hindering the entry of trucks” into Gaza due to severe restrictions and lengthy procedures, something that has caused about 7,000 trucks to have not yet been able to enter the enclave, according to a statement from the provincial administration.
The head of the UN reiterated that “nothing justifies the horrible attacks in Hamas of October 7,” in the same way that “nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” in reference to the retaliation of Israel – which has resulted in about 32,000 lives – for the attacks of the Islamist group that left about 1,200 dead.
“Now more than ever it’s time to achieve an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It’s time to silence the weapons. Palestinian children, women and men in Gaza are still trapped in an incessant nightmare, communities destroyed, houses demolished, entire families and generations annihilated by hunger and starvation that stay the population,” Guterres recalled.
In this sense, he urged all UN member countries to support humanitarian work, after several countries suspended funding for the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) after Israel’s accusations against a dozen of its members of participating in the Hamas attacks.
“I want the Palestinians in Gaza to know that they are not alone. People from all over the world are outraged by the horrors that we all witness in real time (…) We have already seen enough. We have already had enough and we still believe that human dignity and decency must define us as a global community,” Guterres said.
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
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