International
The US approved a shipment of bombs to Israel before the attack on WCK co-operants
The United States approved a new shipment of weapons to Israel, which includes more than 2,000 small and medium-diameter bombs, before the Israeli attack that on April 1 killed seven volunteers from the NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK), by Spanish chef José Andrés, a senior American official confirmed to EFE.
The authorization came despite the pressure on the White House to stop these transfers in the face of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.
According to The Washington Post, which was the first to report the news, the new transfer of bombs was approved on Monday, but before the Israeli attack on the WCK convoy.
The White House receives criticism for its continued military support for Benjamin Netanyahu’s Israeli government for its offensive in Gaza, in particular by human rights organizations, the Arab and Muslim community in the United States and some legislators and government workers.
The aforementioned US official explained that the new bombs correspond to a military package previously authorized by Congress and will not be delivered to Israel until the end of this year or next.
In a preliminary report on the event of WCK, the Israeli Army concluded that the attack did not have the “intention of harming humanitarian workers” and was due to an “erroneous identification.”
José Andrés’ organization denounced that the three vehicles of the convoy were deliberately attacked in a range of more than a kilometer until all their members were eliminated.
Biden hardened the tone on Thursday in a call with Netanyahu in which for the first time he conditioned future US support for the offensive on Gaza to specific steps by Israel to protect civilians and humanitarian workers.
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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