International

Strike paralyzes the north of the Dominican Republic

Photo: Listin Diario

November 14 |

A 24-hour strike, promoted by the coalition of Popular and Social Groups of the Cibao region, Dominican Republic, paralyzed this Monday the north of the country, where the call of local leaders is to stay at home and thus stop productive work in the region.

This strike has the objective of calling the attention of the Dominican Government to attend to the demands regarding the improvement of medical services, the construction of schools and the completion of public works, lowering the price of the basic food basket and fuels, as well as improving the country’s electricity service.

The spokesman of the popular coalition, Osvaldo Brito, declared that the support of the population for this strike has been “overwhelming” and that, in spite of the government’s intimidation, “we will continue with our demand”, he added.

Through local media, Brito called on the population “to continue supporting, staying at home, giving a clear message to the Government that it must change the economic policy which affects the great majority”. Last April this organization called a strike for the same causes.

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The social leader declared that the Dominican Police arrested several leaders of the organization in the hours prior to the regional strike. The Dominican media reported that most of the businesses are closed and that the city of Santiago de los Caballeros is militarized.

So far there are reports of burning of tires in sectors such as Los Ciruelitos, Licey Al Medio, Navarrete and other points of the region.

On the other hand, the president of the Dominican trade organization Detallistas Unidos, Ricardo Rosario, declared that he believes that “dialogue and collaboration are the key to solve the common problems affecting the population”, thus urging that the parties return to the negotiating table and work together “to find constructive solutions”.

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.