International

The EU warns of “a serious crisis” in Venezuela if the results are not verified

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has again demanded the publication of Venezuela’s electoral records and has warned that, in case Nicolás Maduro insists on saying that he has won without being able to verify it, this country “may enter a serious crisis.”

“If Maduro insists on saying that he has won and does not want to understand that, for the international community, without verification there is no assumption of results, Venezuela can enter a serious crisis. We are all trying to prevent this from happening,” said Borrell, who appeared before the media on Monday on the occasion of the course ‘Quo Vadis Europa?’ that he directs this week at the Menéndez Pelayo International University in Santander.

The head of European diplomacy sees “clear” that Maduro “refuses to show the minutes.” “I should have done it, it’s had time,” he added.

And he has abounded in the fact that “if there is no verification of the results, the results cannot be accepted.”

“I know that Maduro has dedicated very affectionate words to me, it is not the first time, but I have to insist on the same thing: If the results cannot be verified, they cannot be accepted and, at the moment, they are not verifiable. Well, rather, they are through the information provided by the opposition,” he said, alluding to the fact that the Venezuelan opposition has managed to gather “80% or more” of the minutes and give a result “radically different from the one that Maduro proclaims.”

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

In addition, Borrell has called the “pin of sarcasm” that Maduro has appealed to the Supreme Court of Venezuela to “defend him.” “I don’t know what he is going to issue as a sentence because his function is not to count the electoral results,” he said.

The high representative has called to wait to see what happens in the coming days, although he has added that there are more than 2,000 people arrested and “the repression is accentuated,” and he trusts that the international community will maintain its demand to verify the results.

Asked about the negotiations, he explained that they are still ongoing and, “even some Latin American country has proposed repeating elections and sharing power between the Government and the opposition.” “I don’t know how to do that, but nothing will be done, surely, until the Court speaks,” he said.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

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.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

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.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

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.