International
Unicef warns that the military incursion in Rafah is “catastrophic” for thousands of children
UNICEF warned on Monday that one of Israel’s military incursion into Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, is “catastrophic” for 600,000 children who take refuge in the city, thousands of whom have a disability, medical condition or other vulnerability that puts them in even greater danger.
“Rafah is now a city of children who have no safe place to go in Gaza,” Catherine Russell, executive director of UNICEF, said in a statement after the warning from the Israeli Army that ordered the evacuation of about 100,000 residents of Rafah in the face of the possibility of a military action.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), after the October evacuation orders to move south, it is estimated that there are now about 1.2 million refugees in Rafah, which was home for 250,000 people.
Another aspect to take into account, given the high concentration of children, – including many who are very vulnerable and on the verge of survival – as well as the probable intensity of violence, with possible evacuation corridors probably mined or full of unexploded ammunition and services in relocation areas that are most likely limited,
He said that military operations will cause a large number of civilian casualties and that the few basic services and infrastructures that remain and that they need to survive, will be totally destroyed.
“More than 200 days of war have taken an unimaginable price in children’s lives,” Russell said.
He also assured that if large-scale military operations are carried out, children will not only be at risk of suffering violence, but also chaos and panic, “at a time when their physical and mental states are already weakened.”
Killed and injured disproportionately, children suffer more acutely from interruptions in medical care, education and lack of access to sufficient food.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 14,000 children have died in the conflict that began on October 7.
UNICEF estimates that about 65,000 children have some pre-existing disabilities, including difficulties seeing, hearing, walking, understanding and learning; that about 78,000 are under two years of age and that, of them, almost 8,000 suffer from acute malnutrition.
In addition, about 175,000 children under the age of 5 (or 9 out of 10) are affected by one or more infectious diseases and almost all of them already need psychosocial and mental health support, said the organization, which called for an “immediate and lasting” humanitarian ceasefire, the release of the hostages and the end of any serious violation against children.
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
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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