International
Venezuela installs 99 % of machines for referendum drill
November 18 |
The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela communicated this Friday that the Electoral Power has installed 99 percent of the electoral machines for the simulation of the consultative referendum in defense of the Essequibo, scheduled for this November 19.
The president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Elvis Amoroso, informed that the decision of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) will be respected, in which it granted the injunction action filed to protect the right of Venezuelans to elect and protect with their vote the inalienable rights over the Essequibo Guayana.
Amoroso detailed that “80 percent of the electoral schedule presented to Venezuelan men and women has been complied with so far. Ninety-nine percent of the electoral machines have been installed for the simulation of the consultative referendum to be held on November 19”.
Likewise, he detailed that everything is ready for the fulfillment of 100 percent of the foreseen schedule, with guarantees of legal transparency, necessary for the development of the electoral process.
“All the necessary adjustments are being made so that all the Venezuelan people may participate and know everything related to this December 3 process to defend the Venezuelan Essequibo”, added the official.
Likewise, he referred that high technology is available and explained that electoral centers will be set up in all the municipalities of the country in order to familiarize people with the process of the Consultative Referendum for the Essequibo.
In this sense, the Electoral Power will travel all over the country and will meet with political organizations and unions in order to familiarize them with this electoral process.
The President of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Elvis Amoroso, also informed that they received the sentence of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), which declares the amparo action in favor of the referendum introduced by the National Assembly of 2020 to be admissible.
Amoro declared that the request for protection of the consultative referendum of the Essequibo of December 3, an area in dispute with Guyana for more than 100 years, was admissible.
The TSJ ruled that “there will be no validity or legal effectiveness” in the national territory, decisions or acts carried out by persons or states that prevent or hinder the referendum to be held on December 3.
The judicial body assured that the measure was intended to protect the referendum from any foreign act or decision, while awaiting a resolution of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The TSJ summoned the Venezuelan institutions not to recognize these acts, in case they occur, and instead, ordered the CNE to continue with this process that has no binding character and does not enclose in itself an immediate change in the disputed territory of almost 160,000 square kilometers.
“To continue with the protection of the rights and interests of the Republic around this historic cause in the defense of the sovereign rights over the Essequiba Guiana, as well as its independence, freedom, sovereignty, territorial integrity and self-determination”, Amoros stressed.
By means of sentence 1470, the TSJ ordered the CNE to continue in its competences with the actions that guarantee the nationals the right of political participation, in the consultative referendum to be held on December 3, 2023.
The Supreme Court orders President Nicolás Maduro to “continue with the protection of the rights and interests of the Republic regarding this historic national cause in the defense of its sovereign right over the Essequiba Guyana”, in accordance with the provisions of Article 152 of the Magna Carta.
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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