International
Modi leads the count of the Indian elections with a smaller margin than expected
The preliminary results of the Indian general elections show the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in the lead but with a lower margin than expected.
The BJP leads the vote trend in 236 seats out of the 543 of the Lower House of Parliament or Lok Sabha in the running, according to data from the Electoral Commission of India (ECI), and with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) it leads it would stand at 282.
A political force requires 272 seats to win the majority, a result that the BJP achieved with ease in 2019, by obtaining 303 seats.
The same data from the ECI place the Congress Party (INC), the main formation of the opposition, with 99 seats.
The historic formation leads a coalition of opposition parties known as the National Inclusive Alliance for the Development of India or simply INDIA, with more than 200 seats.
The ECI does not specify what percentage of votes has been counted, so the trend could vary as the count progresses.
The Indian Electoral Commission began on Tuesday to total the votes of the general elections to the Lower House of the Indian Parliament, the largest votes in the world in which almost 650 million people participated over more than six weeks.
At the moment, the ECI only concludes the results of a constituency, in the city of Surat, in the western state of Gujarat, Modi’s home state.
The electoral authority attributed the victory directly to the BJP, being the only formation that managed to run for that region.
This is the only phase of the electoral process that takes place simultaneously in this country with almost one billion voters that required seven phases for voting, held between April 19 and June 1, convening groups of more than 100 million voters each.
The Hindu nationalist leader is looking for a third consecutive term and had set himself the goal of achieving 400 seats with his alliance.
Modi has made a fierce campaign in search of the two-thirds parliamentary majority that allow him to promote constitutional reforms.
At the same time, the result of these elections will offer a real look at the strength of opponents of Modi, a coalition that includes the historic Indian Congress Party, of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.
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
-
Central America4 days agoFuneral turns tragic as armed attack leaves seven dead in Guatemala City
-
Central America4 days agoCosta Rica issues Yellow Alert and halts water activities over tsunami currents
-
Central America5 days agoPeru’s ambassador highlights “historic bonds” with El Salvador on Independence Day
-
International5 days agoU.S. and China push for extension of tariff truce after “constructive” talks in Sweden
-
International4 days agoThree salvadorans in Florida sentenced in $146 million construction tax fraud scheme
-
International5 days agoMedvedev warns Trump after new Ukraine ultimatum: ‘Russia is neither Israel nor Iran’
-
International4 days agoKremlin hails preparedness after Kamchatka quakes leave no casualties
-
International5 days agoTrump administration opens civil rights probe into duke university over alleged bias
-
International4 days agoU.S. launches ads urging undocumented migrants to self-deport via CBP Home App
-
Central America3 days agoDaniel Ortega’s last historic sandinista ally detained in Managua
-
International5 days agoArgentina requests reentry into U.S. Visa Waiver Program during DHS chief’s visit
-
Central America3 days agoHonduras sees ongoing killings of land defenders and attacks on press, warns NGO
-
International5 days agoPetro accuses Marco Rubio of undermining colombia’s sovereignty over Uribe comments
-
Central America3 days agoGuatemala transfers top gang leaders to maximum security prison after funeral home massacre
-
International3 days agoTrump to build $200M ballroom at the White House by 2028
-
International1 day agoTrump administration blasts judge’s ruling reinstating TPS for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua
-
International1 day agoStudy finds COVID-19 vaccines prevented 2.5 million deaths worldwide
-
Central America1 day agoCosta Rica faces historic vote on lifting presidential immunity for Rodrigo Chaves