International
Nine out of 10 climate catastrophe survivors in Brazil suffer from psychological disorders
Nine out of 10 inhabitants of Rio Grande do Sul, a state in southern Brazil that has been suffering for 43 days from the worst climate catastrophe in history, are psychologically affected by the tragedy, suffering from anxiety and depression linked to losses and the fear of suffering new floods, according to a study released on Tuesday by the local press.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and exhaustion (burnout syndrome) are mental health diseases cited by those who responded to a survey carried out by professional psychologists from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, capital of Rio Grande do Sul, which borders Argentina and Uruguay.
According to the varied responses of the survivors to the floods that began on April 29 and began to recede at the beginning of June, anxiety is generated for example when finding an open faucet and listening to the noise of water or with nightmares that the house is being flooded.
Among the data collected by the researchers, anxiety stands out with 91 percent, followed by exhaustion 60 percent and depression, with 50 percent.
The coordinator of the study, psychiatrist Simone Hauck, told the RBS news network, in Porto Alegre, that the environmental catastrophe that caused at least 175 deaths, 38 missing and from which almost 450,000 people are still being evacuated, affected even those who were not victims of the floods.
There are similar reactions between the victims and the volunteer rescuers, who responded that they dream of water entering the apartment and think that “few things will be worth obtaining in life if they can be lost at any time,” he explained.
The specialist said that these symptoms appear temporarily, with which they should decrease as the tragedy passes, with the resolution of housing problems or other problems related to the flood.
According to the television network, experts warned that the highest suicide rate in Brazil is that of Rio Grande do Sul, even before the tragedy.
The Ministry of Health of the federal government of Brazil formed a team of 300 mental health professionals to attend to those affected by storms and floods in Rio Grande do Sul since the end of last April.
The survey on the mental health of survivors aims to make a map of the neighborhoods and regions that should receive priority in public investment in the area of mental health, such as the construction of care centers and the hiring of psychologists and psychiatrists.
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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