International
Venezuelan opposition in Argentine embassy urges Brazil to expedite safe passage
Venezuelan opposition figures who are seeking asylum at the Argentine embassy in Caracas and have denounced harassment by Venezuelan security forces urged Brazil, which is guarding the embassy, to accelerate efforts to secure safe passage for them to leave the country.
Having spent nine months in asylum at the diplomatic mission and with less than a month before the planned presidential inauguration in Venezuela on January 10, Pedro Urruchurtu, who was the coordinator of International Relations for opposition leader María Corina Machado during the campaign, called on Brazil to “urgently intensify efforts and coordination with the region, understanding that this situation could clearly worsen.”
Brazil agreed to guard the Argentine embassy in August, after the Venezuelan government expelled Argentine diplomatic personnel following President Javier Milei’s statements that he would not recognize another “fraud” in Venezuela after the controversial July 28 elections.
The Venezuelan electoral body declared Nicolás Maduro the winner of the elections without presenting electoral records, while the opposition claims that their candidate, Edmundo González, who is in asylum in Spain, won with a significant lead based on more than 80% of the voting records they say they collected that day.
In a press conference via teleconference, Urruchurtu mentioned that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva “is a democrat, who has expressed his concern about the situation in Venezuela,” and while the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes the importance of maintaining state-to-state relations, “this situation is an emergency.”
Since late March, Urruchurtu, Magally Meda, Omar González, Claudia Macero, Humberto Villalobos, and Fernando Martínez Mottola, political leaders or campaign collaborators of Machado, entered the Argentine embassy in Caracas after the Venezuelan prosecutor’s office issued a detention order against them for alleged violent acts intended to destabilize Maduro’s government.
The opposition leader stated that it was not only the long duration of their stay at the embassy, but also that “we are experiencing an unprecedented siege in the last decade of the opposition’s struggle in Venezuela.”
“We will have been without electricity for three weeks, and we cannot go out to get water, medicine, or light,” said Meda, who added that the situation “has been very exhausting, especially in the early mornings when they show up with hoods on,” which she described as “psychological harassment.”
For his part, Omar González referred to the constant presence of armed men, whom he claimed they have seen aiming assault rifles with telescopic sights and laser pointers, hidden in the vegetation of nearby residences. They determined the type of weaponry through photographs, he said.
“We are six completely unarmed civilians,” Urruchurtu said.
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.
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.
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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