International

Donald Trump insists that Canada should be part of the US after Justin Trudeau’s resignation

The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, insisted on Monday that Canada should become one more state of the country and assured that the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, “known this” and therefore announced his resignation.

“Many people in Canada WOULD LOVE to be state 51. The United States can no longer withstand the huge trade deficits and subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this and resigned,” Trump said on his social network Truth Social.

“If Canada joined the United States, there would be no tariffs, taxes would go down considerably and they would be TOTALLY SAFE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese ships that constantly surround them. Together, what a great nation we would be!” added the elected president.

Trump’s proposal that Canada integrate into the United States, which he has been repeating in recent days more as a joke than as a real possibility, has generated discomfort among Canadians, defenders of their sovereignty.

As it was later transcened, Trump expressed this idea for the first time during a dinner with Trudeau in Mar-a-Lago (Florida), on November 29.

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The president-elect has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all products from Canada and Mexico if they do not stop the flow of migrants and drugs to the United States, which led Trudeau to visit Mar-a-Lago to try to persuade Trump not to apply those measures.

This Monday, at a press conference, Trudeau announced that he will resign as prime minister after more than nine years in power and that he will also leave the leadership of the Liberal Party.

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.