International

Italy again sends a ship with 8 migrants to Albanian detention centers

The Italian ship ‘Libra’, used by the government of Giorgia Meloni to transfer immigrants to its controversial detention centers in Albania, sails with 8 migrants to the Balkan country, as sources on board have confirmed to EFE.

The ship left last night for Albania and could arrive at port tomorrow, Thursday, or Friday, depending on weather conditions.

The government of the far-right Meloni is using this ship to welcome certain immigrants on the high seas – adult and healthy men from countries considered safe – and take them first to the center of Shengjin and then to Gjader, according to the agreement signed with Albania.

Maximum discretion

The first time Meloni implemented this strategy was on October 16, but it failed: the ship only brought 16 immigrants from Egypt and Bangladesh and 4 of them had to be immediately returned to Italy for being minor or “vulnerable.”

Shortly after, the remaining twelve also had to be taken out of Albania and taken to Italy because a Court in Rome determined that neither Egypt nor Bangladesh could be considered “safe countries”, under the ref a judgment of the Court of the European Union.

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This was the beginning of a harsh confrontation between the Executive and Judicial powers, to which the Government reacted by shielding the list of “safe countries” by law and keeping Egypt and Bangladesh in it.

Given the outcry that aroused the first time it was carried out, on October 16, this new operation is being carried out with the utmost discretion.

Meloni thus insists on carrying out this plan that, in its implementation, aroused great interest among its community partners, but which is being threatened by the repeated sentences of some Italian courts.

This Monday, the Court of Catania (south) – as did the one in Rome – annulled the arrest of an Egyptian maintaining that Egypt is not a safe country and thus going against the government law, while the Court of Bologna (north) has addressed the European justice to assess the legitimacy of this migration protocol.

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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.