International
Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismailite Muslims, dies at the age of 88 in Lisbon
Prince Karim al Hussaini Aga Khan IV, philanthropist and spiritual leader of the Ismailite Muslims, died this Tuesday in Lisbon at the age of 88 surrounded by his family.
Its foundation, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), reported in a statement the death of the 49º imam of the Ismailite Shiite Muslims and “direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad.”
The note added that, after this death, his designated successor will be announced.
Born in Switzerland in 1936 and raised in this country and in Kenya, he was studying at Harvard when he was appointed imam of between 12 and 15 million Ismailites that are estimated to be in the world in 1957 by his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan.
Known for his opulent mansions and his taste for careers, Karim al Hussaini Aga Khan was known for his work as a philanthropist and being in charge of the network of institutions around the world dedicated to education, health, social and economic development, and culture.
It is not known for sure how much his fortune amounted to, there are those who place it in billions of dollars.
The Ismailites are a Shiite Muslim minority that since the 19th century has granted the title of Aga Khan to their imam, who is attributed a direct descent from Muhammad.
The imams have no control over any specific territory but exert their influence through the AKDN.
Portugal hosts one of the largest Ismailite communities in Europe, with between 8,000 and 10,000 people.
Ten years ago, the Portuguese Government and Aga Khan signed an agreement to establish the world headquarters of the Ismali Imamat in Portugal.
Three years later, Aga Khan officially designated the Henrique de Mendoça Palace in Lisbon as the global headquarters of the Ismaeli Imamat.
Among the honors he received throughout his life stands out that of “her highness”, granted by Queen Elizabeth of England in 1957, and that of “her royal highness” that was granted to her two years later by the then Shah of Iran.
Two times married and with four children, he created a business empire that goes from the banking sector to hotels.
In the 1960s he founded the luxury tourist enclave of Porto Cervo, in Sardinia (Italy), and the Costa Smeralda yacht club, which became a pole of attraction for European royalty, Hollywood actors and celebrities of the time.
Even so, in the interviews he defined himself as a religious leader rather than an entrepreneur and claimed to be focused on fighting poverty by promoting the autonomy of people and culture.
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
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