International

Vance criticizes Harris at his first solo rally: He has no gratitude towards the United States

The Republican candidate for the vice presidency, J.D. Vance, took advantage of his first solo rally to reproach the current vice president of the United States and Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, he said, having lied about the state of President Joe Biden and not loving the country enough.

Vance, who on Monday last week was named ‘number two’ of the Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump (2017-2021), in the electoral contest, chose Middletown (Ohio), his hometown, as the setting.

“When I see her give a speech and talk about the history of this country, she does not do it with appreciation, but with condemnation. (…) Not everything is perfect nor will it be, but if you are going to lead this country you should feel grateful for it. You should have gratitude, and I have never felt that I have it,” he said about Harris.

Vance, 39, also put in the focus of his criticism that the vice president and the rest of the Democratic leadership hid, in his opinion, the deterioration of Biden, 81 years old and that on Sunday he renounced seeking re-election after internal and external pressures.

“Kamala Harris lied about that. My fellow Democratic senators lied about that, as did the media. Everyone who saw Joe Biden knew that he was not able to do the job. And for three years they didn’t say anything, until it became a political deadweight. That’s not a way to manage a game. It’s an insult to voters,” he said.

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The one elected by Trump added that both he and the former president are going to “work hard” to secure the votes on November 5.

“We are going to fight for every worker in this country,” said Vance, who often uses his humble origins to argue that he will strive for the most disadvantaged and will never forget where he comes from.

His speech maintained the same anti-migration and patriotic rhetoric of the Republican tycoon: “We are going to close the border. We are going to put American citizens first because that is what Americans are going to choose us for. It’s about common sense,” he concluded.

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.

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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.

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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.