International
Milei highlights the support of the IMF and the World Bank while denying devaluation pressures
Argentine President Javier Milei stressed the support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to its Administration, revealed that Argentina is negotiating a new program with the Fund “to get the economy up and running” and categorically denied the alleged pressures of the body led by Kristalina Georgieva to devalue the peso.
“It is false that the IMF is asking (Luis) Caputo (Minister of Economy) to devalue,” Milei said in an interview on Tuesday with the Todo Noticias (TN) channel in which he referred to the conversations he had with the head of the Fund during the Global Summit on Peace in Ukraine held in Bürgenstock (Switzerland) on June 15 and 16.
“I didn’t talk to her about money,” he clarified.
Milei highlighted what he considered to be economic achievements of his Government. “We have been in financial balance for five months in a row” and “it’s been two months in which salaries and pensions (pensions) beat inflation,” he said.
In addition, he stressed that “wholesale inflation today is 3.5%,” compared to 54% when he assumed the Presidency, while mentioning a new agreement in the making with the International Monetary Fund, and celebrated that “the president of the World Bank decided to support Argentina.”
The president also defended the head of his government’s finances by stating that “(Luis) Caputo is the best Minister of Economy in the history of Argentina. No one is going to achieve Caputo’s achievements,” he said.
The Argentine head of state categorically denied the rumors about pressure from the IMF to devalue the currency.
“It is false that the IMF is asking Caputo to devalue.” However, he acknowledged the pending challenges: “The recovery will take time, but we are on the right track,” he said.
At the political level, Milei accused Kirchnerism of trying to destabilize his Government: “Kirchnerism is trying to strike a blow from the first moment,” he said without providing evidence in this regard.
Milei also reaffirmed his leadership and decision in the election of his cabinet. “I’m not going to touch any minister. I’m the boss,” he stressed.
During the interview, Milei announced that Federico Sturzenegger, former president of the Central Bank known for his liberal approach and architect of the Argentine president’s economic reform proposals, will be fully integrated into his Government.
In addition, he criticized figures who, according to him, misappropriate the papal representation: “There are people who take their representation and do not have it. It should not be sympathetic to Pope Francis that those who claim to protect the poor, steal from the poor,” he added.
Milei also referred to the political opposition and the legislative power, pointing out that “a senator earns more than twice as much” as he earns.
At the international level, the president highlighted his relations with far-right politicians. “We have an excellent link with Santiago Abascal (leader of the Spanish far-right Vox party), with the Bolsonaros, with (Giorgia) Meloni,” Italian Prime Minister, boasted.
In addition, he announced an upcoming visit to France: “Macron invited me to go to Paris. I’m going to Paris for the opening of the Olympic Games” and he also defended his official trips.
“I travel as many times as necessary for my work. How many were invited to be at the G7 table? (…), with my travels I put Argentina at the top,” he said.
In his interview with TN, Milei did not skim on criticism of the media and some journalists, whom he accused of lack of ethics. “There are many journalists who are very dirty,” he said.
Finally, the Argentine president recognized the challenges faced by his Administration
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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