International

Former Bolsonaro aide testifies in Brazil about vaccination fraud

Photo: Metrópoles

May 18 |

Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, former aide-de-camp to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, will testify today at the Federal Police (PF) as part of an investigation into the falsification of anti-Covid-19 vaccine data.

Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), ordered on May 3 the PF to arrest Cid, in addition to conducting a search and seizure at the former president’s house.

The former paratrooper’s home was the subject of one of the search and seizure warrants, and the agents also collected the former president’s cell phone.

“I never said I took the [Covid-19] vaccine. I was never asked for a vaccination card in the United States. There is no manipulation on my part,” said the far-right politician when he left his residence in Brasília, accompanied by his defense lawyers.

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On that occasion, 16 search and arrest warrants were served, and six preventive arrest warrants were issued in Brasília and Rio de Janeiro.

“The false insertions, which occurred between November 2021 and December 2022, had as a consequence the alteration of the truth about a legally relevant fact, that is, the immunized status against Covid-19 of the beneficiaries,” said the PF.

Therefore, it added, “such persons were able to issue the respective vaccination certificates and use them to circumvent the sanitary restrictions in force imposed by the public authorities (Brazil and the United States) aimed at preventing the spread of contagious disease”.

The suspicion is that the vaccination records of Bolsonaro, Cid and Laura, the ex-governor’s youngest daughter, were falsified.

Simulated information was entered into the Ministry of Health system between November 2021 and December 2022 to obtain the vaccination certificate and travel to the United States.

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Bolsonaro assured the PF, during a testimony on May 16, that he did not know about an alleged scheme that rigged the inoculation data against Covid-19.

In the statement, to which the portal R7 and Record TV had access, the ex-military admitted knowing Ailton Barros Gonçalves, retired Army major and arrested on suspicion of involvement in the deceptive web.

To the PF, Bolsonaro affirmed that “if Mauro Cid devised (fraudulent scheme of vaccination cards) it was in absence, without any knowledge or guidance” of the former head of state.

The law enforcement force also found dialogues between allies of the former Army captain that show an articulation for a coup attempt, with the aim of keeping Bolsonaro in power and arresting De Moraes.

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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.