International
EU demands end to Venezuela’s judicial actions against opponents as fraud claims mount
On Tuesday, the European Union (EU) called on the Venezuelan government to end its “judicial intimidation campaign” against opposition leaders, following the opening of a criminal investigation against two opposition figures amid allegations of election fraud.
Peter Stano, spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, urged Venezuelan authorities to “stop this intimidation campaign,” emphasizing that the EU is “deeply concerned” about the unfolding situation in Venezuela.
Following the July 28 elections, which were marred by fraud allegations, the National Electoral Council (CNE), accused by the opposition of bias towards the ruling chavismo, declared incumbent President Nicolás Maduro re-elected with 52% of the vote compared to 43% for González Urrutia, without releasing official election documents. Opposition reports, which were published, showed González Urrutia with 67% versus Maduro’s 30%.
On Monday, opposition leaders María Corina Machado and González Urrutia urged the military in an open letter to side “with the people” and end the “repression” of protests. González Urrutia signed the letter as “elected president,” while Maduro has also claimed victory.
Shortly after, Venezuela’s attorney general announced a criminal investigation against Machado and González Urrutia for “open incitement to police and military officials to disobey the laws.” They are also accused of “usurpation of functions” and “incitement to insurrection.”
The EU stated on Sunday that the results of Venezuela’s elections, which declared Maduro the winner, “cannot be recognized.”
Unlike the United States and other countries, the EU has refrained from recognizing the opposition candidate’s victory.
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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