International
Orsi inaugurated as Uruguay’s leader, vows to tackle crime and inequality
Yamandú Orsi was sworn in as Uruguay’s President this Saturday, outlining his top priorities for his administration: the economy, security, poverty, and the search for those disappeared during the dictatorship.
The former presidential candidate from the Frente Amplio delivered a 25-minute speech before the Uruguayan General Assembly, laying out the broad guidelines of his policies while signaling openness to dialogue with the political opposition.
At the beginning of his address, he acknowledged 40 years of democracy in Uruguay but emphasized that the scars of the dictatorship remain.
“This is why it is both fair and essential to uphold our commitment to freedom, truth, and justice,” he stated, drawing applause from the audience.
His commitment to finding those who disappeared during the dictatorship resurfaced at the end of his speech:
“Our democracy will be healthier the day every Uruguayan family knows where their missing loved ones are.”
On the economic front, Orsi emphasized Uruguay’s legal security and macroeconomic stability.
“The positive accumulation of past efforts has made Uruguay a country with stable rules, where contracts are honored, where the state fulfills its commitments, and where macroeconomic stability is a state policy,” he highlighted.
He acknowledged differences in economic policy approaches, stating:
“We may disagree on the tools to achieve a fairer distribution of national wealth—something we deeply value—but we will not ignore the economic principles Uruguay has upheld since the restoration of democracy.”
Regarding security, Orsi took a firm stance:
“There will be no leniency toward crime or its repression,” he declared, reaffirming his administration’s unwavering commitment to combating organized crime, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
However, he also warned that a purely repressive approach would be insufficient:
“We know well that any solution will be incomplete—and even demagogic—if we fail to address the many root causes of violence.”
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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