International

Microsoft details Iran’s cyber operations to influence the US elections.

The American technology company Microsoft detailed this Friday in a report its latest findings on the cyber operations of the Iranian Government to influence the presidential elections of next November in the United States.

In the report, called ´Iran advances in the 2024 elections with cybernetically facilitated influence operations´, the company indicates that it has seen that activity in Tehran in the last three electoral cycles in the United States and “in recent months.”

Iranian operations are distinguished from Russian ones “because they appear later in the electoral season and use cyberattacks more inclined to electoral conduct than to influence voters,” explains the company, which also details activities of Russia and China.

Specifically, Iran has “laid the foundations” to make campaigns of influence on hot issues of the elections and has activated them to generate controversy among voters, “especially in hinge states”, key because they can lean towards one party or another.

For example, he cites websites “that pretend to be news” and that are “actively” attracting groups of voters at the extremes of the American political spectrum “with polarizing messages about presidential candidates, LGTBI rights or the Israel-Hamas conflict.

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The group behind that activity, called Storm-2035, is part of a broad campaign that has been operating since at least 2020 and has a dozen undercover news websites that target audiences that speak French, Spanish, Arabic and English with social and political content, the report says.

Those false media, among which he cites EvenPolitics and Nio Thinker, use artificial intelligence (AI) and plagiarize part of their content from the country’s publications.

Another group, the company suggests, “could be preparing for even more extreme activities” such as intimidation or incitement of violence against political figures to induce chaos, “undermine the authorities and sow doubt about the integrity of the elections.”

It also cites a third group linked to the Revolutionary Guard that carried out “phishing” or phishing in emails in a presidential campaign, and a fourth group that hacked the account of a county official in a hinge state.

In its corporate blog, Microsoft explains that its objective in publishing the reports is to “underline the importance of combating ‘deepfakes’ (manipulated audiovisual material) and promoting education and learning about possible foreign interference.”

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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.