International

Seven FARC dissidents who were traveling in official vehicles were captured in Colombia

Seven members of the Central General Staff (EMC), the main dissident of the FARC, were captured in the Colombian department of Antioquia (northwest), when they were intercepted in a surprise military operation when they were moving in official vehicles.

The confirmation of the arrests was made by the Prosecutor’s Office in a statement in which it assured that it “captured in flagrante” seven members who were mobilized in official vehicles of the National Protection Unit (UNP) on a road between the municipalities of Santo Domingo and Barbosa.

The Prosecutor’s Office detailed that “three of them will be released as a result of the suspension of the arrest warrants requested by the national government, as members of the peace negotiating table with that armed organization outside the law.”

It all began when the Army intercepted a caravan of seven vans from the UNP, which depends on the Ministry of the Interior, in which the heads of an EMC block were traveling.

Among them was Alexander Díaz Mendoza, alias ‘Calarcá’, who is the commander of the Magdalena Medio Block and one of the EMC negotiators with the Government, who had valid safe-conduct, but also guerrilla bosses on whom arrest warrants weigh.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

The governor of Antioquia, Andrés Julián Rendón, was the one who from the beginning warned of the presence of guerrillas in the caravan of official vehicles, while, as he said, there are two mayors of that region, those of Toledo and San Rafael, who despite being threatened, do not have protection from the UNP.

“There is a very sad thing here and that is that I have two mayors threatened (…) and these criminals walking with the resources of the UNP throughout the country with weapons, with cash, with gold,” said the governor.

The Minister of Defense, Iván Velásquez, said that six members of the dissidents who traveled with alias ‘Calarcá’ were captured at a checkpoint.

He explained that among the detainees is Edgar de Jesús Orrego Arango, alias ‘Firu’ or ‘Leo’, who had an arrest warrant for several crimes.

Likewise, “five more people in flagrante dest,” were arrested, including alias ‘Érika’, “who had in her possession a supplier and other elements and María Alejandra Ojeda, who had a gun in illegal possession,” he said.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

Velásquez added that he was also arrested alias ‘Ramiro’, who, despite having the arrest warrant suspended, “admitted to carrying an illegal weapon and for that reason was captured in flagrante delite.”

The same thing happened with ‘Urías Perdomo’, leader of the front Rodrigo Cadete and alias ‘Oliver González’, of the Raúl Reyes Commission.”
The minister pointed out that in the search the authorities found two revolvers, a supplier, bullets and one hundred million pesos in cash (about 25,000 dollars today).

Regarding the situation, the chief negotiator of the Government of Colombia with a part of the EMC, Camilo González Posso, said that the suspension of the arrest warrant with alias ‘Firu’ is in progress but that at the time of being arrested he was in an “irregular situation.”

“In these circumstances we have been informed of the arrest of one of the commanders of front 36, named ‘Firu’ or ‘Leo’, who has suspension of arrest warrant pending, we hope he will come out soon, but anyway it is an irregular situation and we have proceeded in accordance with the law,” added the chief negotiator.

Despite the incident, González Posso said: “We hope that this situation will be clarified (…) we want it to be resolved by law and we can resume the activities planned for this week.”

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

Last week the Colombian Government announced the termination of the bilateral ceasefire with the EMC due to its constant attacks on the civilian population and the Police in the southwest of the country, but maintained it for three months with three other organizations of that group, including the Magdalena Medio Block.

The EMC has been in peace talks since last year, but the dialogues have been hampered by the frequent attacks of that group in the departments of Cauca, Nariño and Valle del Cauca, in the southwest of the country.

Faced with that situation, the Government suspended contacts with the faction led by alias ‘Iván Mordisco’ last April, with which it ended the ceasefire in force since the beginning of the year, while maintaining them with the other three groups.

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.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

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.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

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.