International

Colombia: Government and FARC-EP dissidents set up Dialogue Table

Photo: EFE

October 17 |

The Office of the High Commissioner for Peace reported on Monday that between the National Government and the Central General Staff of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) the Table for Peace Dialogues and Protection of the Civilian Population and Ceasefire, signed by President Gustavo Petro, was installed.

In this sense, President Gustavo Petro declared that he initiates the second peace process in Colombia after the process with the National Liberation Army (ELN): the process with the Central General Staff (EMC).

The decree signed by the president also declares a “bilateral and temporary national ceasefire with territorial impact based on an Agreement for the respect of civil society”.

In this sense, the decree also states that this measure is in force from October 17, 2023 until January 15, 2024.

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“Consequently, the suspension of offensive military operations and special operations of the National Police against the members of the Central General Staff of the FARC-EP is ordered,” the decree stated.

On the other hand, the High Commissioner declared that “the work of the social, citizen and community oversight will be developed under the terms and conditions established in the corresponding protocol, agreed by the parties at the Peace Dialogue Table”.

“These will be three months to show the country and the international community that we have the maturity to face the difficulties, with the horizon that we can transform the conflict for political and social reasons and achieve the peace that all Colombians deserve”, said the High Commissioner.

The roundtable will be held in the Colombian departments where the dissidents have the greatest presence and where the civilian population has been most affected, such as Putumayo, Cauca, Arauca, Huila, Guayare, among others.

Likewise, the Commissioner refers that “the National Government, through the Special Programs Fund for Peace or other funds created for these purposes, will have the necessary resources for the implementation of the commitments and responsibilities derived from the present agreement.

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This is the second bilateral ceasefire between both parties, after the suspension by the Government in May of the first one agreed upon, which was from January to June, however after an EMC front killed four indigenous minors it had recruited.

International

White House says Cuba policy unchanged despite sanctioned fuel shipment

The White House said Monday that it has not changed its policy toward Cuba, despite allowing a sanctioned Russian oil tanker to deliver fuel to the island on humanitarian grounds.

U.S. officials emphasized that the decision was made as an exception and does not signal a broader shift in policy.

The administration added that similar decisions would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on humanitarian considerations.

The clarification comes amid ongoing restrictions related to U.S. sanctions policy, which continue to limit trade and financial flows involving Cuba.

International

Spain to grant citizenship to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López

The Spanish government is expected to grant citizenship this Tuesday to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lópezthrough an extraordinary procedure known as “carta de naturaleza.”

The decision will be approved by royal decree, an exceptional legal mechanism used in special cases that require expedited resolution due to specific circumstances.

López has been living in Madrid since 2020, after leaving Venezuela following a prolonged political and legal conflict with the government of Nicolás Maduro.

According to government sources, López currently does not have a valid Venezuelan passport and faces difficulties in having his nationality fully recognized in his home country.

As a result, he applied for Spanish citizenship via a fast-track process at the end of 2025, after previously attempting to obtain it through regular procedures.

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The Spanish government justified the move based on López’s international relevance and foreign policy considerations.

López is the leader of the Voluntad Popular party and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, an initiative launched in 2022 alongside figures such as Garry Kasparov and Masih Alinejad.

International

ICE to remain at airports amid DHS shutdown, Homan says

The U.S. “border czar,” Tom Homan, said Sunday that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will remain deployed at airports until operations return to “100% normal,” as the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues.

“We will maintain ICE presence until airports feel they are fully back to normal operations,” Homan said during an interview on Face the Nation on CBS.

Homan justified the deployment on security grounds, noting that the measure was ordered by President Donald Trumpamid widespread absenteeism among agents of the Transportation Security Administration, who have gone without pay for over six weeks due to the DHS shutdown.

According to acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, at least 460 TSA agents have resigned during the shutdown, while daily absenteeism has averaged 11%, exceeding 50% at some airports.

Homan warned that if TSA staffing levels do not recover after the shutdown, ICE agents will continue filling the gap. “ICE is there to support our TSA brothers and sisters. We will remain as long as needed to ensure airport security,” he said.

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The DHS shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The impasse stems from disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over ICE funding.

A recent bipartisan Senate proposal to fund DHS without including ICE failed after being blocked by House Republicans, who insist on full funding for the agency.

Amid the deadlock, Trump signed an executive order directing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay TSA agents to address what he called an “emergency situation” and restore order at airports, with payments expected to begin Monday.