International

Bolsonaro misses appeal deadline, faces imminent prison order by Brazil’s Supreme Court

The defense team of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro (2019–2022) did not file a new appeal within the established deadline against the 27-year and three-month prison sentence issued by Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) for attempted coup d’état, Brazilian media reported on Tuesday.

The deadline to submit the so-called embargos de declaração—a legal mechanism used to request clarification on any unclear points of the ruling—expired at the last minute on Monday. According to criminal procedure jurisprudence, the expiration of this period paves the way for Justice Alexandre de Moraes to soon order Bolsonaro to begin serving his sentence under the initial regime, meaning incarceration rather than house arrest.

Moraes must also determine the facility where Bolsonaro will be held. Since November 22, the former president has been under preventive detention in a room at the Federal Police Superintendency in Brasília.

The magistrate converted Bolsonaro’s house arrest into preventive detention after he attempted to tamper with his electronic ankle monitor, shortly after his son, Flávio Bolsonaro, called for a vigil outside the residence where he was serving his sentence.

During the custody hearing, Bolsonaro argued that his attempt to interfere with the device was caused by the effects of psychiatric medication and denied any intent to flee.

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As a former head of state, Brazilian jurisprudence grants Bolsonaro the right to serve his sentence in a special unit, separated from other inmates. Therefore, he may remain in a Federal Police or Armed Forces facility, although he could also be transferred to the Papuda Penitentiary Complex on the outskirts of Brasília.

Although the deadline to file the appeal expired Monday night, Bolsonaro’s legal team may still have an opportunity this week to submit another type of appeal: an embargo infringente. However, under Brazilian law, this type of appeal is only admissible if at least two judges voted for acquittal—something that did not occur in Bolsonaro’s case.

Once any such appeals are filed, it will be up to Justice Moraes to decide whether they can be heard. If he rejects them, the defense can still submit a complaint appeal (agravo) challenging the refusal.

International

Air Canada suspends JFK flights amid soaring fuel costs linked to Iran conflict

Air Canada announced on Friday that it will suspend its flights from Montreal and Toronto to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport from June through late October, citing rising jet fuel costs driven by the conflict involving Iran.

“Since the beginning of the conflict with Iran, some routes and less profitable flights have become economically unviable, so we are making adjustments accordingly,” the airline said in a statement.

Despite the suspension, the carrier confirmed it will continue operating 34 daily flights from six Canadian cities to New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.

Air Canada expects to resume its JFK operations after October 25.

Meanwhile, Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz amid a temporary ceasefire in the region. However, jet fuel shortages could persist even if the truce holds.

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Fuel accounts for between 25% and 30% of operating costs for most airlines, and carriers worldwide have responded to the crisis by raising fares and suspending select routes due to safety and profitability concerns.

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.