International
Venezuelan President holds dialogue with Palestinian counterpart
October 16 |
The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, and the President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Mahmud Abbas, held a telephone conversation on Sunday to address the critical situation of Palestinian civilians after the Israeli aggression in Gaza.
From the official account of the Government of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro highlighted that they discussed “the terrible situation in the Gaza Strip, after the indiscriminate attacks on the civilian population by Israel, causing thousands of deaths and injuries”.
Recognizing that Israel’s attack has crossed the line of respect for International Humanitarian Law and violates the agreements governing the matter, the Venezuelan Head of State also pointed out that both he and Abbas agreed in demanding an immediate cease-fire.
“We agree in demanding an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of a humanitarian channel of assistance to the population, as well as the reestablishment of international legality, through compliance with the resolutions of the United Nations and respect for the commitments of the parties in each of the negotiations carried out,” said the Venezuelan dignitary.
Likewise, Maduro Moros pointed out that Abbas informed in detail about the development of the events and the diplomatic deployment of the PNA, “as a leading body, committed to peace, dialogue and respect for the agreements signed between the parties, which have been systematically ignored by the Israeli side”.
The Bolivarian leader reaffirmed Venezuela’s unconditional support to the Palestinian cause and the PNA, in function of achieving peace and urging the international community and the UN authorities to assume, with strength and courage, a role of guarantors of such legality, as the only route to achieve peace and fulfill the mandate of the consolidation of the Palestinian State.
“We also reviewed the initiatives promoted by different countries, among them China and Egypt, in function of convening a great world conference in favor of peace and the reestablishment of international legality, which are aimed at immediately stopping the military aggression against civilians and advancing on the definitive path to the reestablishment of the rights of the Palestinian people,” insisted the Venezuelan president.
Likewise, Nicolás Maduro informed about the shipment of more than 30 tons of humanitarian aid, in the coming days, to the Gaza Strip, “as part of the beginning of a plan of direct and constant support to the Palestinian people, through the established humanitarian channels”.
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.
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