International
Elon Musk accuses brazilian Supreme Court of blocking Starlink accounts amid misinformation probe

On Thursday, billionaire Elon Musk accused Brazil’s Supreme Court of blocking his company Starlink’s bank accounts as part of the court’s investigation into the spread of misinformation on social media platform X, which Musk also owns.
Musk lashed out at Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is leading the investigation, labeling him a “criminal of the worst kind” and a “dictator of Brazil” in a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter.
A Supreme Court spokesperson told EFE that they had no information regarding this action by the judge.
According to the company, the blocking of Starlink’s accounts—an internet service provider with over 215,000 active lines in Brazil—is aimed at ensuring the payment of fines imposed on X.
Starlink announced on social media that it would appeal the decision, which it described as “unfounded,” and claimed that De Moraes ignored “the legal processes guaranteed by the Brazilian Constitution.”
The company also stated that it is “doing everything possible to ensure its service remains uninterrupted,” as the ruling also prevents it from conducting financial transactions in the country.
Musk’s accusations come a day after De Moraes ordered Musk to appoint a legal representative for X in Brazil within 24 hours or face suspension of the social media platform’s activities in the country.
Musk is under investigation for alleged obstruction of justice, criminal organization, and incitement to crime after he refused to comply with the court’s orders to remove content from the social media platform.
Earlier this month, X announced it was closing its office in Brazil because De Moraes had suggested jailing its legal representatives if they did not comply with court orders regarding the removal of profiles.
De Moraes is leading an investigation into the spread of misinformation and previously ordered the removal of hundreds of posts on X questioning the integrity of Brazil’s electoral system during the 2022 elections. He is also overseeing another investigation into former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro for his alleged involvement in an attempted coup following his election defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
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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