International

Guterres reminds Israel that the orders of the ICJ are mandatory

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, reminded Israel on Friday that the orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are binding, after this court today ordered the Jewish State to “immediately stop” its attacks in Rafah, south of Gaza.

“The secretary general recalls that, in accordance with the Charter and the Statute of the Court (International Justice), its decisions are binding and trusts that the parties will duly comply with the order,” says a statement released by the spokesman for Guterres this Friday.

In addition to emphasizing the obligation of compliance with the order of the ICJ, the Secretary-General of the United Nations reported that “he will transmit without delay to the Security Council the notification of the precautionary measures.”

The main judicial body of the United Nations also today urged Israel to cease “any other action in the Rafah government that may pose to Palestinian living conditions that lead to their total or partial physical destruction.”

The ICJ also demanded that the Israeli Executive “guarantee unimpeded access” to the Strip of “any mission” that seeks to investigate allegations of genocide against its authorities.

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He also ordered Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to “keep open” Rafah’s passage for “the unhindered and large-scale provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance” in Gaza.

All these precautionary measures, which Guterres said today to “take note” and which seek to protect the Palestinians as a group under the Genocide Convention, were voted for a panel of 15 judges and approved with 13 votes in favor and two against.

Israel will have to submit a report within a month with all the measures put in place to comply with the orders announced today by the court.

Likewise, the ICJ told the Jewish State that it must respect the precautionary measures announced in January and March, which includes preventing its Army from committing acts of genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and, again, stopping “preventing” the access of humanitarian aid to the Strip.

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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.

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International

Macron meets Machado, stresses need for democratic transition in Venezuela

Emmanuel Macron met on Monday at the Élysée Palace with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, where they discussed the importance of advancing a democratic transition in Venezuela.

In a message shared on social media, Macron highlighted Machado’s commitment to freedom and stressed the need to achieve a transition that is peaceful and respects the will of the Venezuelan people.

“I received María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Together, we discussed her commitment to freedom and the importance of achieving a democratic, peaceful transition in Venezuela that respects the will of its people,” he wrote.

For her part, Machado expressed her “deep gratitude” to Macron and to France for their support of democracy and freedom in Venezuela.

“We have gone through a long and painful journey, and we are now very close to freedom. Venezuela will become a nation of free and equal men and women—prosperous, safe, and united,” she said.