International
Salvadoran Congress decrees emergency due to storm Pilar
October 30 |
The Congress of El Salvador declared on Sunday a state of emergency throughout the country in view of the imminent arrival of tropical storm Pilar from the Pacific Ocean, expected for next Tuesday.
“Declare a state of national emergency, throughout the territory of the republic for a period of 15 days”, states the decree that allows activating different institutions and mobilizing funds to address eventualities caused by the tropical storm.
Hours before, the General Directorate of Civil Protection of El Salvador decided to declare a red alert due to the proximity of storm Pilar, which could cause heavy rains, strong winds and high tides.
The governmental entity informed Sunday night that it leaves without effect the orange alert established for the Pacific coastal zone of the Central American country and the Metropolitan Area of San Salvador, and the yellow alert for the rest of the country.
According to the Observatory of Threats of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN), the storm Pilar is approaching the southwest coast of El Salvador and already brings some rain in certain parts of the country, which allows predicting the extension and impact of the meteor.
Authorities have come to coordinate civil and economic protection efforts, while advising the population to travel with caution on public roads, drive carefully at night and in the rain, and refrain from crossing rivers, streams, canals or “any stream of water that is generated during a storm”.
The Ministry of Education (Mined) reported the suspension until next Wednesday, November 1, of all on-site and virtual classes, both in the public and private sectors, as well as academic activities of all kinds, including for public and private higher education institutions.
So far, no casualties or material damages have been reported due to the rains in the last hours, especially in the east and west of El Salvador.
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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