International
Maduro calls on military to be alert to alleged plan by “fascist groups”
July 5 |
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called on Tuesday on the military to be alert and respond with “union” in the face of an alleged plan of “fascist groups” that intend to create violence in the country, although he did not offer details on this denunciation.
“What those fascist groups did recently shows that they have a plan to take us back to the violence of the guarimbas (protests), to the time of intolerance, confrontation, useless conflict and division among Venezuelans, and we will not allow it,” said the president in Caracas.
The call was made during a ceremony for the promotion of 251 members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), in which he asked the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, to respond to those who “are once again launching messages to divide” the military institution.
“I authorize the FANB to respond to fascism, coups and imperialism. I authorize the FANB to respond with unity, with morale, in the streets, with strength and to tell them clearly that the Armed Forces are not to be messed with”, insisted the head of state without explaining what the messages in question are or who has delivered them.
“Coup plotters and fascists who denigrate our military (…) whoever messes with the peace of the republic must have the answer in the clear word, in the order, in the clear command of all the military leadership”, he added.
During the decade that Maduro has been in power, Venezuela has experienced several waves of anti-government protests, branded as “guarimbas” by the Executive, some of which left dozens of people dead, especially in 2014, 2017 and 2019, when the political tension was higher.
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.
International
Three salvadorans in Florida sentenced in $146 million construction tax fraud scheme
Three Salvadoran residents living in Orlando, Florida, were sentenced for conspiracy to commit tax fraud and wire fraud involving a scheme exceeding $146 million in the construction industry, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. The sentence was handed down by federal judge Timothy J. Corrigan on Tuesday, July 29.
Eduardo Aníbal Escobar (45) was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in prison, Carlos Alberto Rodríguez (36) to 3 years and 4 months, and Adelmy Tejada (57) to 18 months in prison, followed by 6 months of house arrest. All three pled guilty on April 3, 2025.
In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered restitution payments totaling $36,957,616 to the IRS for unpaid payroll taxes, and $397,895 to two insurers for workers’ compensation claims related to the scheme.
Escobar and Rodríguez are permanent legal residents originally from El Salvador, while Tejada is a naturalized U.S. citizen of Salvadoran origin.
International
Kremlin hails preparedness after Kamchatka quakes leave no casualties
The Kremlin expressed relief that the earthquakes that struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula today —the first being the strongest since 1952— resulted in no casualties, and emphasized that the region is well prepared to face such natural disasters.
“Thank God, there were no victims,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov during his daily press briefing.
The presidential representative stated that “all alert systems were activated in time, and evacuations were organized for residents in areas requiring it in response to tsunami threats.”
“Overall, the seismic resilience of the buildings proved effective (…) Therefore, we can say that the technological preparedness demonstrated a high level,” Peskov added.
Honduras sees ongoing killings of land defenders and attacks on press, warns NGO
Trump to build $200M ballroom at the White House by 2028
Daniel Ortega’s last historic sandinista ally detained in Managua
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
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