International

UN peacekeepers denounce that Israeli soldiers shot at an UNFI post

The UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon (UNFINUL) denounced this Friday that on October 22 a group of Israeli soldiers “shot” at a blue helmet observation post in the village of Dhayra, in southern Lebanon.

In a statement, UNFIN denounced that while Israeli soldiers were carrying out “operations to clean up homes near their post in Dhayra, they targeted the position of UN troops, who had to retreat “to prevent them from being shot.”

The UN mission denounced that the Israeli Army “has repeatedly demanded that UNFINUL vacate its positions along the Blue Line,” the dividing line between Lebanon and Israel and where the blue helmets are highlighted to monitor the border strip.

He also repeated that Israel “has deliberately damaged camera, lighting and communications equipment in some of those positions,” while insisting that, “despite the pressure exerted on the mission” the FIUL troops “continue to be in their posts and fulfilling their task.”

Subsequently, the UN mission said in another statement that on October 23 “a medical center in a FINUL position in Beit Leif was hit by a projectile or rocket of unknown origin, which caused damage to the buildings.”

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Incidents “of unknown origin”

In addition, he listed a series of incidents “of unknown origin” in which “no member of the peace forces was injured.”

Since the beginning of the land invasion of Israel’s southern Lebanon, the blue helmets have observed clashes in the villages of Alma al Shaab, Aitaroun, Bint Jbeil, Hanin, Houla, Kunin, Labbouneh, Markaba, Maroun al Ras, Meiss al Jabal, Ras Naqoura and Yaroun, the note added.

“We will continue to fulfill our surveillance and information tasks,” added the mission, currently commanded by Spain, which reminded the Israeli Army and “all actors” – in reference to the Shiite group Hezbula – of their obligations to guarantee the security of United Nations personnel and property.

In addition, he insisted that “any deliberate attack against them constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and resolution 1701” of the UN Security Council, which ended the one-month war fought in 2006 between Israel and Hezbulah.

On October 20, FINUL again accused Israel of “deliberately” demolishing an observation tower and the perimeter fence of one of its positions in the south of the country, on the border with Israel, actions that have been repeated since the Israeli Army began its land invasion at the beginning of the month.

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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.