International

Delcy Rodríguez, key figure in U.S.-Venezuela transition, remains under EU sanctions

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who U.S. President Donald Trump has tasked with overseeing the new bilateral relationship and is positioned to lead the transition, is among 69 individuals sanctioned by the European Union for actions undermining democracy and the rule of law, human rights violations, and repression of civil society and political opposition in the country.

The EU first imposed sanctions in November 2017, with Rodríguez added to the list in June 2018. These measures include asset freezes, bans on receiving funds, and a prohibition on entering the European Union. On December 15, 2025, EU foreign ministers decided to extend these sanctions until January 10, 2027, citing “persistent actions that undermine democracy and the rule of law, as well as human rights violations and repression of civil society and democratic opposition.”

Other officials on the sanctions list include Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, former National Electoral Council President Tibisay Lucena, former National Guard Commander Antonio Benavides, Attorney General Tarek William Saab, and former Supreme Court President Maikel Moreno, the latter of whom was removed from the list following a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

On July 14, 2021, the CJEU rejected Rodríguez’s appeal, confirming her responsibility in Venezuela’s institutional erosion. Appeals from other senior officials were also dismissed, though the court accepted Moreno’s appeal, citing insufficient grounds from the European Council to sanction him.

Rodríguez was also involved in a diplomatic controversy in January 2020, when she made a stopover at Madrid Airportand met with then-Spanish Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos in the transit area, despite being barred from entering Europe. The encounter sparked debate in Spain and reached the European Parliament, which questioned whether the Spanish government had violated the sanctions regime. The European Commission clarified it has no authority to sanction member states, and Madrid prosecutors closed the case, ruling that Rodríguez had not attempted to enter Spanish territory.

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In 2025, the European Parliament’s Petitions Committee kept a request open to review whether Spain had breached the sanctions framework. However, Brussels reiterated that enforcement is solely the responsibility of EU member states.

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.