International
The Pentagon says that Gaza’s humanitarian dock will operate again this week but “temporarily”

The U.S. Department of Defense reported on Tuesday that the humanitarian dock located off the coast of the Gaza Strip will be operational “again this week,” but stressed that it is a “temporary measure” and that there are “better ways” to bring aid to the Palestinian enclave.
“We hope it will be operational again this week (…) We have always said that the dock is a temporary measure. I have no date to announce in terms of when it will cease its operations,” said the press secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense, Patrick Ryder, at a press conference.
The dock, which has been used since May 17 to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza by order of US President Joe Biden, was withdrawn on Friday and towed to Ashdod (Israel) to avoid possible damage caused by the strong waves.
“We are looking forward to it being operational again soon to deliver the aid,” Ryder replied when asked if the dock, whose installation cost 230 million dollars, could be dismantled as early as next month.
The installation consists of two structures: a floating dock to which the ships loaded with humanitarian assistance are moored and a roadway through which the trucks that carry the supplies to the ground travel.
The Pentagon already announced on May 28 that it had to temporarily remove part of the pier since the road that joined it with the beach was damaged by a storm and needed repair.
The rough sea also caused two U.S. Army ships to be stranded.
On the other hand, the representative of the Pentagon added today that, “as far as (aid) launches from the air are concerned,” they have “the capacity and the intention” to continue carrying them out.
More than 3,500 metric tons (3,858 tons) were delivered through the maritime corridor for delivery by humanitarian organizations, according to the U.S. Central Command. (Centcom).
Since then, Centcom has also participated in almost 40 missions of this type in Gaza to deliver, among other things, more than 1,050 metric tons of bulk food, water and prepared meals.
The last humanitarian air launch of this type took place on June 9, when a U.S. C-130 threw more than 10 metric tons of “ready-to-eat meals” (padded food) in northern Gaza.
The UN has repeatedly stressed that neither the artificial dock nor these actions are sufficient in the face of Gaza’s needs.
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.
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