International
India destroys the homes of the alleged attackers in Kashmir with excavators
Indian authorities demolished the homes of two men suspected of being involved in the recent deadly attack against tourists in Indian Kashmir, amid a diplomatic escalation with Pakistan and growing concerns in this convulsive region with a history of conflict.
The demolitions were carried out a few hours before a scheduled visit to the area of the head of the Indian Army in the region, General Upendra Dwivedi, a local policeman revealed to EFE, on condition of anonymity, stating that they conform to India’s zero tolerance policy against terrorism.
The houses, located in the southern districts of Pulwama and Anantnag, specifically in Tral and Bijbehara, respectively, belonged to Asif Sheikh and Adil Thoker.
Both are alleged members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), an insurgent organization made illegal by India.
“It is suspected that the two terrorists are behind the Pahalgam attack,” a senior police official told EFE, adding that “the demolitions were carried out as a deterrent measure.”
On April 22, in the meadow of Baisaran de Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Indian Kashmir, a group of men attacked a group of tourists, killing 26 of them, mostly Indians. India has attributed the attack on militants that it describes as Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.
The incident has intensified tensions in this territory claimed by India and Pakistan.
Face-to-face witnesses in Pulwama and Anantnag informed EFE that security forces, including police and paramilitaries, cordoned off the areas before proceeding to demolish the houses.
Images showing the houses destroyed before dawn have circulated widely on social networks.
India’s National Investigative Agency (NIA), the country’s main anti-terrorist agency, has launched a formal investigation into the Pahalgam attack. Sources cited in several local media claim that investigators have questioned numerous residents and tourists who were in the vicinity at the time of the murders.
General Dwivedi’s visit to Srinagar, the main city of Kashmir, occurs in a context of growing tension between India and Pakistan, with a strong exchange of statements between the two nations after the Pahalgam massacre.
The Kashmir region, a territory claimed entirely by India and Pakistan, but administered in parts by each, remains heavily militarized.
The frequent outbreaks of violence, often linked to separatist insurgencies seeking independence or greater autonomy from Indian rule, continue to disrupt life in the Himalayan territory.
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
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