International
Commissions of the Argentine Senate resume debate on key law for Javier Milei
The Law Bases and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines, the star project of the Executive of Javier Milei, faces a decisive week from this Monday in its discussion prior to its processing in the Senate.
A plenary meeting of the Senate General Legislation, Budget and Finance and Constitutional Affairs committees will resume this Monday at 3:00 p.m. local time (18.00 GMT) the debate of the law and the fiscal package that were approved by Deputies on April 30 and that the Executive needs to show governance and sustainability to its economic program.
At the same time, the ruling party’s negotiations continue with the other blocks of Senators and provincial governors to approve a law that the Executive had imposed as a deadline before May 25.
Times run against the ruling party because several opposition leaders question the level of the income tax on wages, the Incentives for Large Investments (RIGI) Regime and money laundering that are contained in the bills.
If the senators modify the bill, they must return to Deputies so that it is finally sanctioned.
The presidential spokesman, Manuel Adorni, defended the RIGI on Monday by indicating that “it is not the looting of the country,” “it does not help entrepreneurs to take money abroad,” “much less merge SMEs,” but will attract investments of more than 200 million dollars that “are not made if there is no tax and exchange rate stability” and “will give impetus to the economy, investments and employment,” and will allow “triple the level of exports in a decade.”
The senators of La Libertad Avanza, a far-right party led by Milei, are only seven, another 33 are opposition Peronists and the rest of the 72 legislators of the Upper House are composed of potential allies.
This is the second time that Parliament has debated the bill, since in February it was approved in general by the Chamber of Deputies, but later, in the face of a sure defeat in the vote article by article in the Lower House and a foreseeable subsequent rejection in the Senate, the ruling party chose to return the bill to commissions.
After successive negotiations, the Government submitted a new project with 232 articles (compared to the 664 of the original initiative), the first of which declares the public emergency in administrative, economic, financial and energy matters for a period of one year, giving the Executive delegated powers in those matters, much less than those initially claimed by Milei.
The initiative allows the reform of the State, enables the privatization of a dozen companies, involves controversial changes in labor and retirement legislation and includes incentives for the energy and hydrocarbons sector and for large investments.
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
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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