International
Royal quinoa, the superfood that grows in front of the largest salt flat in the world in Bolivia
Royal quinoa, a fundamental superfood for feeding Aymara and Quechua communities in Bolivia, grows on the banks of the Uyuni salt flat, the largest in the world with more than 10,000 square kilometers and where its producers ensure that the unique conditions of the place strengthen the grain.
At 3,600 meters above sea level, in front of a desert of salt, in an arid and cold climate and with great temperature changes between day and night, the royal quinoa grows with a grain larger than other varieties and is called a superfood for its high nutritional content, rich in proteins and minerals and with a less bitter flavor than others due to its lower sapon content, which is a natural substance that covers the grain.
Guadalupe Ramos, 79 years old and who has an experience of 50 in the planting and harvesting of royal quinoa in the community of Jirira in the department of Oruro, assured EFE that “on the edge of the salt flat is the best quinoa.”
The farmer cooks with the grain: “soups, cakes, Galicians, bread and even soft drinks,” and indicated that thanks to this food she can work with energy at almost 80 years old and the royal quinoa was the basis of the diet of her “six children, fourteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren”.
Eddy, a young farmer from Jirira, told EFE that most of the grain that his family harvests is sold so that other producers can sow the royal quinoa in other parts of the highlands.
For tourists visiting the Uyuni salt flat, the image of the red fields of the royal quinoa plant is an impressive view, since it contrasts with the dry grass and little vegetation and in rainy season the red grains and stems are reflected in the mirror of water that is created in the salt desert.
The grain is usually ivory white but there are also red and black colors, without the flavor or essential characteristics changing.
Bolivia obtained in 2014 the designation of origin by the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), made up of Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, of the ‘Royal Quinoa of the Southern Altiplano of Bolivia’ that guarantees that it is an exclusive Bolivian product to protect its authenticity.
The Andean country is also the world’s leading producer of royal quinoa, with 55 percent of global production.
Recently Guadalupe showed the royal quinoa harvest to a group of chefs from the ‘Project of Indigenous and Native Cuisines’ of the United States Embassy fund and the Gustu restaurant, in order for the grain to be used not only in local cuisine, but also in haute cuisine.
In the group was the famous chef Sean Sherman of the Sioux nation in the United States, who cooked the harvested quinoa with Guadalupe. Sherman was recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023 for his work to vindicate indigenous native cuisines, and shared his knowledge with Bolivian chefs and cooks.
International
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.
Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.
“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.
Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.
Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.
International
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.
“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.
At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.
After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.
International
Colombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
The Colombian government stated on Thursday that it would have no reason to reject a potential asylum request from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should he leave office, as regional tensions persist over the deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean since August.
“In the current climate of tension, negotiations are necessary, and if the United States demands a transition or political change, that is something to be assessed. If such a transition results in him (Maduro) needing to live elsewhere or seek protection, Colombia would have no reason to deny it,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio in an interview with Caracol Radio.
However, Villavicencio noted that it is unlikely Maduro would choose Colombia as a refuge. “I believe he would opt for someplace more distant and calmer,” she added.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also commented on Venezuela’s situation on Wednesday, arguing that the country needs a “democratic revolution” rather than “inefficient repression.” His remarks followed the recent detention and passport cancellation of Cardinal Baltazar Porras at the Caracas airport.
“The Maduro government must understand that responding to external aggression requires more than military preparations; it requires a democratic revolution. A country is defended with more democracy, not more inefficient repression,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter), in a rare public criticism of the Venezuelan leader.
Petro also called for a general amnesty for political opponents and reiterated his call for forming a broad transitional government to address Venezuela’s prolonged crisis.
Since September, U.S. military forces have destroyed more than 20 vessels allegedly carrying drugs in Caribbean and Pacific waters near Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in over 80 deaths.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that attacks “inside Venezuela” will begin “soon,” while Maduro has urged Venezuelans to prepare for what he describes as an impending external aggression.
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Colombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
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