International

Cristina Fernández demands the restitution of the pensions that the Milei Government took away from her

Former Argentine president Cristina Fernández (2007-2015) demanded that the National Administration of Social Security (Anses) return the pensions she received for having occupied the Head of State and for being the widow of the former president Néstor Kirchner (2003-2007) and that were taken away by decision of the Government of Javier Milei.

Official sources consulted by EFE indicated this Saturday that the administrative claim presented by the former president will be answered “according to the procedural deadlines,” something that will be done by the Legal Affairs area of ANSES, the state agency that administers the pension system in Argentina.

Through a resolution published on November 15 in the Official Gazette, ANSES revoked the lifetime pension benefits that Fernández received for having been head of state and as a widow of another former president, a measure that on the day before had been announced by the Government of Milei itself.

Why did they withdraw Cristina Fernández’s pensions?

The resolution recalls that on November 13, an impeachment court confirmed a sentence for Fernández to six years in prison and perpetual disqualification from holding public office in a trial for irregularities in the concession of road works during his government and that of Kirchner.

ANSES alleged that lifetime pensions for former presidents “become legally incompatible for those who have committed a crime in the exercise of the same public function for which they have acceded to said allocation of privilege and to the detriment of the National State.”

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After this measure became effective, Cristina Fernández questioned it on the grounds that pensions for former presidents are not granted for good performance, but for the “merit” of having obtained the election as heads of state by the popular vote.

He also claimed that the alleged “bad performance” of a president can only be judged by the Argentine Parliament through the constitutional process of impeachment during the exercise of the mandate.

In statements to radio La Red, Facundo Fernández Pastor, the former president’s lawyer, pointed out that if the administrative claim before the ANSES does not succeed, Fernández will go to court.

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.