International
The president of the ruling National Party of Uruguay resigns after the dissemination of chats
The president of the ruling National Party of Uruguay (PN), Pablo Iturralde, resigned from his position this Thursday after the dissemination of a series of conversations with former senator Gustavo Penadés, who remains in pretrial detention for allegations of child sexual abuse, for alleged benefits in the Prosecutor’s Office.
“By virtue of the disclosure of a private and personal conversation and in order not to compromise my colleagues or the institutional functioning of my party, I have made the decision to resign from my position as President of the Board of Directors of the National Party,” Iturralde wrote on his social network X account.
As published on Thursday by the local weekly Búsqueda, Iturralde celebrated with Penadés the appointment of prosecutor Alicia Ghione, whom he described as a “friend,” in the investigation for the allegations of child sexual abuse against the former senator after the accused complained about the appointment in the first instance of prosecutor Mariana Alfaro.
“(Alfaro) This is a great HDP. She was the one who asked for the raid on Azul for the subject of rape and is with the theme of Ocean. I threw him to kill him today and he shit himself. He understood the message. The one next is Ghione. If there is a logic, they would have to give it to it. Ghione is my friend,” Iturralde said in one of the published chats to which Penadés replied “hopefully.”
In another of the messages published by the weekly, the now former president of the PN informed Penadés about the appointment of Ghione in the case.
“They gave it to Alicia Ghione. He just called me. He asked me for your number. It is of total confidence. Great girl,” Iturralde said.
In that context, prosecutor Ghione said this Thursday in an interview with local radio Sarandí that she sleeps “in peace” and pointed against her colleagues in, in her opinion, a “enchastre campaign.”
“I would like colleagues to do law instead of dirty campaigns,” he said.
Finally, the pre-candidate and main favorite in the polls to represent the PN in the presidential elections of that country Álvaro Delgado valued on Thursday Iturralde’s decision to resign from the presidency of the party.
“Obviously today some private publications come to light (of) that we learned from the press and I found the decision of the chairman of the Board of Directors correct, prudent and courageous,” Delgado 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
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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