International

Colombia: if foreign relations with Israel have to be suspended, we will suspend them.

Photo: EFE

October 16 |

The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, expressed this Sunday that if it was necessary to suspend foreign relations with Israel, he would do so since “we do not support genocide”.

Through his account on the social network X (formerly Twitter), the head of state made a statement following statements given by the spokesman of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Lior Haiat, who announced that his country decided to stop security exports to Colombia.

“If foreign relations with Israel have to be suspended, we suspend them. We do not support genocides. The president of Colombia is not insulted. I call on Latin America to show real solidarity with Colombia. And if it is not capable, it will be the development of history that will say the last word as in the great Chaco war”, expressed Petro.

Furthermore, he assured that neither the “Yair Klein, nor the Raifal Eithan will be able to say what is the history of peace in Colombia” and recalled that “they unleashed the massacre and genocide” in the South American nation.

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The President commented that the people of Israel are asking for help in the peace of Colombia, in the peace of Palestine and the world. “Colombia, as Bolivar and Nariño taught us, is an independent, sovereign and just people,” he said.

Likewise, Petro declared that someday the army and government of Israel “will ask us for forgiveness for what their men did in our land unleashing genocide.”

In his message, the president referred to Yair Klein, who is an Israeli mercenary who traveled to Colombia on three occasions between 1987 and 1988, according to local media, to plan the training of paramilitary groups and who had contacts with various institutions, including the Administrative Department of Security (DAS).

Israel’s decision comes after the statements made by the Colombian president in response to the new attacks and the siege by the occupation forces against Gaza.

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International

Spain’s irregular migrant population rises to 840,000, study finds

The number of migrants living in Spain without legal residency status continues to rise and has reached 840,000 people, with 91% originating from the Americas, particularly Colombia, Peru and Honduras, according to a report by the Spanish think tank Funcas (Foundation of the Savings Banks).

An estimated 17.2% of the non-EU foreign population living in Spain is in an irregular administrative situation. The estimate is based on the gap between the number of foreign residents effectively living in Spain, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE), and those who hold a residence permit, benefit from international protection, or are in the process of obtaining it.

The data, as of January 1, 2025, point to a notable and sustained increase in irregular migration since 2017, when the estimated figure stood at around 107,000 people, representing 4.2% of the non-EU population residing in Spain.

By origin, migrants from the American continent stand out, totaling around 760,000 people, or 91% of all irregular migrants. Colombians account for nearly 290,000, followed by Peruvians with almost 110,000, and Hondurans with about 90,000. Migrants from Africa (50,000), Asia (15,000) and Europe (14,000) trail far behind.

The figures predate Spain’s latest immigration regulation reform, which came into force in May 2025 and introduces measures to ease access to legal status through residency ties. According to Funcas, the reform would, in principle, tend to reduce the number of migrants in an irregular situation.

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International

Historic snowstorm paralyzes Toronto after 60 centimeters of snow

Toronto, Canada’s largest city and the fourth most populous in North America, was largely paralyzed on Monday after a historic snowstorm dumped up to 60 centimeters of snow and sent temperatures plunging to -15 degrees Celsius, authorities said.

Late Sunday, as the scale of the snowfall became clear, city officials declared a climate emergency, triggering extraordinary measures including parking bans on several major streets to facilitate snow removal operations.

Toronto’s public transit authority reported that while some buses remain immobilized, subway and streetcar services are operating with relative normality, though localized disruptions may occur.

A similar situation is affecting the city’s commuter rail network, which remains operational but is experiencing significant delays on its main routes due to the severe weather conditions.

International

Venezuela frees at least 80 political prisoners, NGO says

At least 80 political prisoners were released on Sunday across Venezuela, human rights group Foro Penal reported, as the broader process of detainee releases continues at a slow pace under the interim government.

Foro Penal’s director, Alfredo Romero, wrote on social media platform X that verified releases took place nationwide and that the figure could rise as more confirmations are completed.

Attorney Gonzalo Himiob, also from Foro Penal, said the excarcelations occurred during the early hours of the day and emphasized that the number is not yet final pending further verification.

The releases are part of a series of steps announced by Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, who took power after the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation on Jan. 3, 2026. Rodríguez has pledged a significant number of liberations but has been criticized by opposition groups and rights organizations for the slow and nontransparent nature of the process.

So far, the Venezuelan government reports that 626 detainees have been freed since December, though independent counts by human rights groups suggest the number of actual political prisoner releases is lower and that many remain behind bars.

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Families of those still detained have maintained vigils outside prisons, hopeful for further releases even as broader concerns about political imprisonment and due process persist.