International
Argentina and Ecuador recognize Edmundo González as Venezuela’s elected president
On Friday, the governments of Argentina and Ecuador joined in recognizing opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the elected president of Venezuela.
Argentina confirmed “beyond any doubt” the victory of Edmundo González, the opponent of Nicolás Maduro’s regime, whose official results declared him the winner of the Venezuelan elections held on July 28, according to official sources.
Argentine Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, shared a message on social media platform X, where she not only provided a link to follow the electoral records published by the Venezuelan opposition but also stated: “We can all confirm, beyond any doubt, that the legitimate winner and elected President is Edmundo González.”
Additionally, during his regular press briefing at Casa Rosada (the Argentine government headquarters), presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni commented that it is “difficult” to see how the crisis in Venezuela will be resolved “with the presence of a dictator” and “from the obvious fact that Maduro indeed lost the elections and that the voting records never appeared.”
Meanwhile, the Ecuadorian government announced its recognition of González, citing “clear manipulation of results” by the National Electoral Council (CNE), which declared Maduro as the winner.
In a statement posted on social media, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared Edmundo González Urrutia as “the legitimate winner,” a recognition “based on respect for the legitimate will of the people of this nation, expressed clearly at the polls and sustained by public demonstrations in recent days.”
“It is about principles. In these crucial and decisive moments, we have a moral obligation, with no room for hesitation or ambivalence, to clearly state where we stand. With pride, we say: we are not on the side of indifference. What happens there concerns us all,” Noboa said.
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
-
Central America2 days agoCosta Rica issues Yellow Alert and halts water activities over tsunami currents
-
Central America2 days agoFuneral turns tragic as armed attack leaves seven dead in Guatemala City
-
Central America3 days agoPeru’s ambassador highlights “historic bonds” with El Salvador on Independence Day
-
International4 days agoFour dead, thousands flee as floodwaters ravage Northern China
-
International4 days agoMultiple fatalities reported in Nevada Resort shooting as Police detain gunman
-
International3 days agoU.S. and China push for extension of tariff truce after “constructive” talks in Sweden
-
International4 days agoMexico City becomes ‘forced waiting point’ as migrant crisis deepens
-
International2 days agoThree salvadorans in Florida sentenced in $146 million construction tax fraud scheme
-
International3 days agoTrump administration opens civil rights probe into duke university over alleged bias
-
International2 days agoKremlin hails preparedness after Kamchatka quakes leave no casualties
-
International4 days agoFive security guards killed in mass shooting at Bangkok Market
-
International3 days agoMedvedev warns Trump after new Ukraine ultimatum: ‘Russia is neither Israel nor Iran’
-
International4 days agoOpposition still rejects Maduro’s Victory as anniversary of 2024 vote nears
-
International4 days agoNetanyahu cites historic success against Iran as he pledges relentless Gaza campaign
-
International4 days agoZelensky praises Trump’s ‘clear stance’ on Russia as ultimatum deadline tightens
-
International3 days agoArgentina requests reentry into U.S. Visa Waiver Program during DHS chief’s visit
-
International4 days agoVatican reports $72M profit in 2024, boosted by real estate and investments
-
International4 days agoHepatitis D declared carcinogenic as WHO urges action to end global crisis
-
International2 days agoU.S. launches ads urging undocumented migrants to self-deport via CBP Home App
-
International4 days agoPeru’s president under fire as she promises crackdown on organized crime
-
International3 days agoPetro accuses Marco Rubio of undermining colombia’s sovereignty over Uribe comments
-
Central America10 hours agoDaniel Ortega’s last historic sandinista ally detained in Managua
-
Central America10 hours agoHonduras sees ongoing killings of land defenders and attacks on press, warns NGO
-
International10 hours agoTrump to build $200M ballroom at the White House by 2028
-
Central America10 hours agoGuatemala transfers top gang leaders to maximum security prison after funeral home massacre