Italy adopts a new decree to overcome hurdles jeopardizing its migration deal with Albania

Italy's far-right government on Monday approved a new decree aimed at overcoming judicial hurdles that risked derailing a controversial migration deal with Albania.

Under the new decree - which is effective immediately - the government shortened the list of countries considered "safe" by law, meaning that Rome can repatriate to those countries migrants who didn't win asylum using a fast-track procedure.

The number of safe countries is now reduced to 19 from the previous 22, excluding Cameroon, Colombia and Nigeria.

The move follows a ruling by Rome judges, who on Friday rejected the detention of the first 12 migrants sent to a newly-opened reception center in Albania, arguing that their countries of origin - Bangladesh and Egypt - were not safe enough for them to be sent back.

Under the ruling, all the 12 migrants were brought back to Italy, where they...