Trump calls damage to Iranian nuclear facilities monumental

Two visions, one country on the limit

Colombians go to the polls this Sunday for the closest presidential second round in years. The progressive Iván Cepeda, an ally of Gustavo Petro, faces the conservative Abelardo de la Espriella, an outsider who surprised by leading the first round with 43.73% of the votes.

“I am concerned about the extreme polarization. There are two very opposing sides and the violence worries me,” lawyer John Manrique told The Associated Press from Bogotá. “I hope we accept the result and seek a social consensus.”

The ghost of polarization

Glaeldys González, analyst at the International Crisis Group, warns that the levels of polarization are “extremely high” and that the electorate is looking for a real solution to violence, health, corruption and finance in both poles.

De la Espriella, known as “El Tigre”, promises a tough hand: mega prisons like Bukele’s and confronting illegal groups. He received the endorsement of Donald Trump. Cepeda, philosopher and former communist, promises to deepen Petro’s social reforms and maintain peace talks. This week, 100 members of armed groups demobilized thanks to this policy.

Allegations of fraud and call for calm

The second round has tense the atmosphere. Cepeda admitted that Petro did not recognize the preliminary count, although he later accepted the official count. The Ombudsman’s Office asked candidates and leaders to promote trust in institutions and avoid unsubstantiated allegations of fraud.

González pointed out that Crisis Group views possible outbreaks of post-election violence with concern, but trusts that international institutions and observers will help contain them.

Yamile Guevara, a retired teacher, criticized the historical distrust of the left: “The left has always been seen as something negative. People forget history.”

On Sunday, Colombia decides between two opposite paths, with democracy and peace as a backdrop.

Pope’s message on migrants

This Saturday, Pope Leo XIV exalted Mother Frances Cabrini, the first saint of the United States, as a model for Christians in the face of the immigration crisis. He did so during a visit to his birthplace in northern Italy.

León, who has clashed with Donald Trump’s government over its crackdown on migrants, especially urged young people to learn about Cabrini’s life and service. With this gesture, the first American pontiff in history confirms himself as Francis’s heir by prioritizing the situation of migrants.

The Pope prayed at Cabrini’s tomb in a basilica named after him in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, near Milan. He then presided over an evening prayer ceremony. The visit was fleeting, a single day, but loaded with symbolism.

Cabrini, canonized in 1946, dedicated her life to caring for Italian immigrants in the United States. Leo XIV presented her as an example of welcome and solidarity, at a time of global tensions over migration policies.

The Pope’s message reinforces the Vatican’s position of protecting the most vulnerable, in contrast to the restrictive measures of the Trump administration. The meeting with the faithful in the basilica also served to reaffirm the Church’s commitment to the displaced.

Attack in Gaza

Israel carried out an attack in the Gaza Strip this Saturday, killing at least six people. Among the victims were two girls and a cameraman for the Al Jazeera network, according to Palestinian officials.

The attack occurs despite a ceasefire agreed in October between Israel and Hamas. Since then, Israel has attacked the territory almost daily, leaving more than 1,000 Palestinians dead, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The bodies of the two sisters, Zina, 4, and Lana, 14, were taken to the Shifa Hospital morgue. They lay in white bags, surrounded by their families.

This incident highlights the continuity of violence in the region, despite diplomatic efforts to achieve lasting peace.