International

Bolivia and Argentina promote energy integration

Photo: Prensa Latina

June 1 |

The presidents of Bolivia and Argentina, Luis Arce and Alberto Fernández, respectively, lead today in the department of Tarija the inauguration of the 132 kV Juana Azurduy de Padilla international interconnection power line.

Fernandez arrived this Thursday at the Tarija airport of Yacuiba and went to the town of Yaguacua, where he held a meeting with his peer and host, and later both proceeded to inaugurate the electricity transmission line.

The energy supplier has a length of 120 kilometers (46.49 in Bolivia and 73.88 in Argentina) and connects the Yaguacua substation in Bolivia with the Tartagal substation in Argentina.)

This project will allow the transportation of electric energy from the Andean-Amazonian nation to the neighboring country with an estimated power of 120 megawatts (MW).

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

The work required an investment of 364 million Bolivianos (US$364 million), concluded in March 2018 in Bolivia and in May 2019 on the Argentine side.

“It is an honor and a joy to receive in Yacuiba, Tarija, our brother president, Alberto Fernández, to deliver a work of great importance for our peoples,” Arce wrote on his Twitter account.

According to the news agency Télam, for Argentina “the import of energy from Bolivia results in an improvement in the voltage levels in the northern area (…), especially at hours of high demand”.

This exporting operation should have started in October 2019, and the works were interrupted in 2020, during the de facto government of Jeanine Áñez.

After the rescue of democracy with the electoral triumph of Arce that same year, in 2021, Empresa Nacional de Electricidad (ENDE) through its subsidiary ENDE Transmisión Argentina S.A. (ETASA), resumed the construction of the section in Argentine territory.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

The work was completed in October 2022, after which the line and generation testing stages were carried out.

On March 13 of this year, Bolivia began exporting, for the first time in bilateral history, 60 MW to Argentina with the possibility of reaching up to 120 MW.

Arce and Fernández are currently leading the inauguration ceremony in an evening attended by ministers of both nations, legislators, leaders of social organizations and neighbors of the Chaco region of Yaguacua.

Related Topics:Argentina Bolivia Integration

Up Next

Social leaders demand resignation of Peruvian Health Minister

Don't Miss

Brazil and Venezuela consolidate alliances with the signing of agreements

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_300x250

International

Trump moves to reclassify marijuana as less dangerous substance

Former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous addictive substance, a move aimed at encouraging medical research without immediately opening the door to federal-level decriminalization.

Trump said that “people were begging” him to make the decision, particularly individuals suffering from chronic pain. He stressed, however, that the measure “is not at all a decriminalization” of marijuana for non-medical use.

“I’ve always told my children: don’t use drugs, don’t drink, don’t smoke,” Trump added. He is a well-known teetotaler.

A senior government official described the decision as “common sense” during a briefing with reporters, noting that marijuana and CBD-based products — a compound derived from cannabis known for its relaxing properties — are already widely used in the United States by patients dealing with chronic pain.

Most U.S. states currently allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes, and more than 20 states, along with the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., have also legalized recreational use.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

International

Shakira’s El Salvador concerts sell out in hours, fans demand more dates

The sell-out of all three announced Shakira concerts in El Salvador in less than 24 hours has sparked a collective call for additional dates, highlighting an overwhelming demand that transcends borders and positions the country as a cultural hub in Central America.

Ticket sales for Shakira’s Central American residency confirmed the artist’s massive impact across the region. The three shows scheduled for February 12, 14, and 15 in El Salvador sold out in under 24 hours, triggering an immediate public response from fans who were unable to secure tickets and are now urging promoters to open new dates, according to an official statement from promoters Two Shows and Fenix Entertainment.

Even before ticket sales officially opened, thousands of people joined virtual queues that exceeded the usual capacity of the country’s ticketing platforms. Despite logging in early and waiting for hours, many users were unable to complete their purchases and were ultimately left without tickets, Two Shows reported.

The unprecedented demand was widely documented through screenshots, testimonials, and social media posts, showing slow-moving waiting lists, ticketing websites overwhelmed by traffic, and purchase processes that failed to go through despite users following all required steps within the designated timeframes.

According to the organizers, demand to see Shakira perform in El Salvador remains strong even after the sell-out. Meanwhile, hotels have reported booking inquiries beyond the announced concert dates, pointing to a larger-than-expected tourism influx tied to the event.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

International

Rubio rules out 2028 presidential bid if Vance runs

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would not seek the presidency in 2028 if current Vice President JD Vancedecides to run as the Republican nominee to succeed President Donald Trump.

“If JD Vance runs for president, he will be our candidate, and I will be one of the first people to support him,” Rubio said in an interview with Vanity Fair, in which he appeared alongside other senior members of the presidential cabinet.

Rubio, 54, and Vance, 41, are widely viewed as two of the leading Republican figures who could headline the party’s ticket in the 2028 election. Under the U.S. Constitution, Trump is barred from seeking another term after completing two presidential mandates.

In a lighthearted moment during the interview, Vance jokingly offered photographers $1,000 if they managed to make him look better than Rubio in the photos. Both leaders have received public backing from Trump, who last October floated the idea of a joint ticket featuring Rubio and Vance, without clarifying who would lead it.

“I think that if they ever teamed up, they would be unstoppable. I don’t think anyone would run against us,” Trump said at the time.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who also took part in the interview, confirmed that Trump does not intend to violate the 22nd Amendment, which prohibits a third presidential term, though she acknowledged that the president is “having fun” with speculation about a possible return to office.

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, served as a Republican senator from 2010 to 2025. He sought the party’s presidential nomination in 2016 but was defeated by Trump after a bruising primary contest. His name was floated as a potential vice presidential pick in 2024, but Vance ultimately secured the spot. After taking office, Trump appointed Rubio as secretary of state, making him the first Latino to hold the position.