International
Candidate Edmundo González Urrutia demands that Chavismo cease “threats” and insults
The presidential candidate of Venezuela’s main opposition coalition, Edmundo González Urrutia, asked Chavismo this Sunday to cease “threats” and insults against his adversaries in the face of next Sunday’s elections.
“Enough of threats, enough of insults, the people want a change in peace, the people want reconciliation, the people want to vote. Long live free Venezuela,” said the former ambassador in a video posted on social networks.
Likewise, the standard-bearer of the Democratic United Platform (PUD) told the members of the ruling party – who support the candidacy of the current head of state, Nicolás Maduro – that “they will be able to try (to put) new obstacles,” but this, he assured, “will not stop “a people that is determined to vote and change.”
“They have wanted to sow the fear of change, they want fear not to allow them to express themselves next Sunday, but what they do not count on, is the courage of the Venezuelan people. Don’t believe in threats and manipulations, they’ve been on that for 25 years, how long do they want to stay in power?” said the former ambassador in the video.
To the Venezuelans he pointed out that there is one week left until “the most important day in the democratic history of the country,” when he will begin to march along “the path of reconciliation of all.”
“That day will be the beginning of an era marked by peace, faith and hope for a better future for all. Let’s make that wish a reality,” asked González Urrutia, who leads the traditional and independent surveys.
The NGO Venezuelan Electoral Observatory (OEV) called this Saturday to condemn any speech that “incites division or violence” during the development of the electoral campaign, which ends next Thursday, and urged the use of a constructive and oriented language “towards the common good.”
Maduro, who is looking for a third consecutive six-year term in power, refers to his nine opponents as “patarucos” – alluding to the cowardly roosters that are not good for the fight -, while proclaiming himself as the “fine” specimen of the corral and the “only” with the ability to govern, and recently called opponents “children of his mother.”
In addition, the president and leaders of Chavismo usually refer to the opponent María Corina Machado – who supports the candidacy of González Urrutia – as “the sayona”, a character who, according to Venezuelan oral literature, appears in the form of a spectrum and punishes unfaithful men.
In May of this year, González Urrutia promised that, if he wins the elections, a president will rule in Venezuela who will not insult his political adversaries.
International
UK braces for potential CO₂ shortage amid Middle East tensions
The government of United Kingdom is preparing contingency measures amid fears of a potential shortage of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which could impact the agri-food industry if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, The Times reported on Thursday.
According to the newspaper, officials assessed this scenario during a recent crisis meeting aimed at evaluating the consequences of a prolonged conflict, triggered on February 28 by joint attacks from United States and Israel against Iran.
Under this scenario, CO₂ supplies—primarily a byproduct of fertilizer production using natural gas—could fall by up to 18%, affecting multiple sectors including agriculture and food production.
The gas is widely used in the slaughter of pigs and poultry, as well as in extending the shelf life of packaged foods. Breweries could also face disruptions due to reduced availability.
“I don’t want to comment on a leak, but now that the information is out there, I hope people feel reassured knowing we are working on it,” said Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in remarks to Sky News.
While a drop in CO₂ supply is not expected to cause major shortages in supermarkets, it could limit product variety, The Times noted, citing access to internal government documents.
To mitigate the impact, authorities are considering prioritizing CO₂ supply for critical sectors such as healthcare and civil nuclear energy, where it is used in cooling systems for blood reserves, organs, vaccines, and electricity generation. The government may also request domestic producers to increase output.
Central America
El Salvador and Paraguay approve 2026–2028 cooperation program
The governments of El Salvador and Paraguay approved the 2026–2028 Cooperation Program, which includes six joint development projects, according to Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira.
Mira stated that El Salvador will act as the “main provider of cooperation,” contributing five initiatives focused on road infrastructure, tourism, and local development. She also noted that one of the projects will be led by the Paraguayan side, although no further details were disclosed.
The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical and Scientific Cooperation between both countries.
According to Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Meeting of the Political Consultation and Bilateral Coordination Mechanism was also held, with the participation of Vice Minister Víctor Verdún.
In an official statement, the Paraguayan government reported that both delegations agreed to identify mechanisms to promote competitiveness, economic growth, and market access. They also committed to signing agreements related to air transport cooperation.
International
Macron meets Machado, stresses need for democratic transition in Venezuela
Emmanuel Macron met on Monday at the Élysée Palace with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, where they discussed the importance of advancing a democratic transition in Venezuela.
In a message shared on social media, Macron highlighted Machado’s commitment to freedom and stressed the need to achieve a transition that is peaceful and respects the will of the Venezuelan people.
“I received María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Together, we discussed her commitment to freedom and the importance of achieving a democratic, peaceful transition in Venezuela that respects the will of its people,” he wrote.
For her part, Machado expressed her “deep gratitude” to Macron and to France for their support of democracy and freedom in Venezuela.
“We have gone through a long and painful journey, and we are now very close to freedom. Venezuela will become a nation of free and equal men and women—prosperous, safe, and united,” she said.
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