International

Salvadoran stands out among hundreds of university students in Beijing

Latinos at the prestigious Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) can be easily counted. Even scarcer are the Salvadorans in this study center, one of the best in the People’s Republic of China and the most outstanding in Biological Engineering, which is the career chosen by Rodrigo Ventura.

Ventura, originally from Soyapango, wanted to become a biologist from his adolescence and first thought of studying Medicine in El Salvador and then specializing in genetics. But that path would take too many years and, even so, he could not fully fulfill his dream.

So he decided to start looking for more options. 18-year-old, he focused on studying in China because, as he told “Diario El Salvador,” here “technology is superior in all laboratories and in support of science.”

China is a global benchmark in technological and scientific advances. Ventura was aware of this from a young age. He sought scholarships sponsored by the Chinese embassy in El Salvador with the support of the Agency for Cooperation (ESCO). He applied in a higher education center in Beijing, in Shanghai and another in Wuhan.

It was chosen in the Chinese capital, none other than by a center that trains high-level chemical talents to work for science and technology. The BUCT has three campuses, east and west, located on Beisanhuan Donglu Street in Chaoyang, and the Changping campus.

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Currently, Ventura, 21, is part of the team of 25 students from different branches who represent his university in the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition), the most important contest in the world in synthetic biology and where international faculties participate.

iGEM started in 2003 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Current competitions include graduates, high school and community laboratories from about thirty countries.

The multidisciplinary team of young people representing the Beijing University of Chemical Technology chose the name of Broccoli Masters because they seek to synthesize the sulforaphane molecule – which is found in this plant. The molecule is anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. This experiment has already been achieved with the “Escherichia coli” bacterium, but never in this way.

An alternative treatment to fight cancer would be achieved, more accessible and with lower costs. This is also one of the central principles of biosynthesis, explains Ventura, who is in his second year of study.

The competition is difficult and most of the participants are Chinese. There are about 200 teams, and only twenty of these are from Latin America. Two dozen others were scored in Beijing alone. It consists not only of the scientific part, but they must take the knowledge outside the Laboratory of Biosynthesis and Efficient Separation of Natural Active Ingredients. Young people will also visit communities to make it known.

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Biosynthesis is also more environmentally friendly than other conventional methods of producing substances. Yu Linwei, 23, studies the third year of the same career as Ventura and coordinates the competing team of iGEM. Yu emphasizes that chemical engineering leaves a strong footprint of pollution on the environment. Colleagues agree that China supports this type of project with students to promote better care of the planet, a fundamental part of the government policies of the socialist country.

The iGEM final will be in October in Paris, France. Ventura also went through an interview process to be part of the team that represents the university. “I want to do my bit for the promotion of Salvadoran science,” he says.

The young man arrived in China in October 2022, when there were still strong restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the world. He had to do three weeks in quarantine, while starting virtual classes.

In addition, it participates in the national competition of university students of life sciences, in the Beijing competition for saving water, energy and reducing carbon resources, and in the national contest for outstanding work in renewable energies; all focused on encouraging students to contribute to a greener world.

In these three competitions his project is the generation of green hydrogen using bacteria. These consume less energy to solve current needs, such as the purification of aquifers. “These projects can be occupied in El Salvador,” says Ventura.

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“I don’t want to be alone here, but to return to my country and apply everything I’ve learned. What’s the point of coming here and I have all the knowledge to myself. In addition, it is a way of saying thank you to my country and China for the opportunities. They trusted me to take on this challenge. Doing one of these projects in the country is like saying thank you,” he adds.

International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”