International

China urges immediate release of Maduro, seeks emergency UN security council meeting

China on Monday called for the release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by the United States during a military operation in Caracas, warning that Washington’s use of force poses a risk to peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press briefing that Beijing is “gravely concerned” about the detention of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and urged the United States to “ensure their personal safety” while they remain outside Venezuela and to proceed with their “immediate release.”

Lin stated that Washington’s actions “clearly violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations,” as well as the “purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.” He accused the United States of engaging in a “blatant use of force” against a sovereign country and of carrying out actions that, according to Beijing, “undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty.”

The spokesperson stressed that such actions “threaten peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean,” a region China considers a “zone of peace.” He reiterated China’s opposition to the use or threat of force in international relations and to what he described as practices of “hegemonic bullying.”

In several responses to reporters, Lin insisted that Washington must “cease efforts to undermine the Venezuelan government” and resolve the crisis “through dialogue and negotiation.”

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China, he added, “supports convening an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council” to address the situation and backs the body in fulfilling its responsibilities in accordance with its mandate.

Asked about contacts between Beijing and Caracas following Maduro’s capture, Lin said China “respects Venezuela’s sovereignty and independence” and trusts that the country will “handle its internal affairs in accordance with its Constitution and laws,” without confirming any direct communication with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who has assumed the role of interim head of the Venezuelan executive.

Regarding bilateral cooperation, Lin noted that “energy cooperation is cooperation between sovereign states” and is “protected by international law and the laws of the countries involved.”

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.