International

Chavismo rejects the opposition’s call for a “serious negotiation”

Chavismo rejected this Thursday, again, the call for a “serious negotiation” by the main opposition coalition, the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), which claims to have won the presidential elections of July 28, in which Nicolás Maduro has been proclaimed re-elected president.

The president of the National Assembly (AN, Parliament), Jorge Rodríguez, responded in a press conference – broadcast by the state channel Venezolana de Televisión – that Chavismo will maintain a “political dialogue” exclusively through the Chamber, which opened this Thursday a process of consultations without the participation of the PUD, despite having been invited.

“We are not going to accept tables, private meetings, secret meetings, chaplants, or anywhere other than the Federal Legislative Palace,” said the deputy, who called the flag bearer of the PUD in the presidential elections, Edmundo González Urrutia, exiled in Spain since September 8.

In this way, Rodríguez, one of the leaders of Chavismo, responded to the appeal of the opposition, which reiterated its invitation to the Government to start a direct dialogue for January 10, when the next presidential period begins.

“Here (in the AN), on January 10, the president-elect on July 28, 2024 will be sworn in, so that it is clear to them. Stop thinking about stupid things and nonsense. That’s going to happen, write it in stone,” remarked the Chavista, who presides over a Chamber controlled by deputies related to Maduro.

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Sectors of the opposition interested in dialogue with Chavismo?

He also assured that some parties that make up the PUD, whose identities he did not reveal, considered the possibility of participating in the “political dialogue” that began this Thursday, with which the Parliament hopes to adjust the electoral laws, but – he said – the opposition leader María Corina Machado, the main advocate of González Urrutia, imposed the decision not to answer the call of the Legislature.

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.