International

At least 37 dead and 151 injured in Israeli attacks on Lebanon in 24 hours

At least 37 people died and 151 others were injured in the southern Lebanon, Nabatieh (south) and Bekaa (east) regions as a result of the Israeli attacks, which have caused almost 2,000 deaths in the last year, most in recent days, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported.

Israeli bombings in southern Lebanon

The highest number of fatalities was recorded in the province of Nabatieh (southeast), where 19 people died and 52 were injured in Israeli attacks.

In Beirut, 9 people died and 24 were injured. In the South (southwest) region, 5 people died and 37 were injured, while in the Bekaa (east) and in Mount Lebanon (where Beirut is located) two people died in each of them.

The Ministry did not offer further details and limited itself to data provided by local emergency centers, dependent on this institution.

In the last few hours, the Israeli Army again bombed two areas of the southern suburbs of the capital, shortly after the Arab spokesman Avichay Adraee published, as usual, two aerial photographs of the Burj al Barajna neighborhood, with two buildings marked in red and asked the population to stay away from them.

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Attacks against Hezbulá

Before this last bombing against southern Beirut, the Israeli Army had reported the launch of fifteen attacks against targets of the Shiite Hezbula militia in the capital, including its historic center for the second time in a year of clashes.

The Israeli army reported an airstrike against the intelligence headquarters of the Shiite group Hezbula in Beirut and also the office of its communication organ in the same city.

According to a military note, the targets reached included several weapons production and storage centers and “other infrastructures.” In Beirut, according to the Army, command centers and intelligence and intelligence collection operations of Hizbulá attacked.

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.