GUSTAVO PETRO

The presidents of Colombia and Venezuela have met and say they will improve trade and security cooperation, as both countries seek to normalize relations following the election of Colombia’s first leftist leader

Colombia was once Washington's strongest Latin American ally against Venezuela. Not anymore.

President Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, has denounced the war on drugs and vowed a new strategy.

MEXICO CITY — (AP) — Hurricane Julia bore down on Nicaragua's central Caribbean coast early Sunday after lashing Colombia's San Andres island in a close pass-by hours earlier. Julia started Saturday as a tropical storm, but gained power most of the day and became a Category 1 hurricane shortly before it veered slightly south of San Andres island in the early evening. It was centered about 80 miles (130 kilometers) east-northeast of Bluefields, Nicaragua, and was moving west at 16 mph (26 kph), with landfall on the Nicaraguan coast expected before dawn. Officials on San Andres imposed a curfew for residents at 6 a.m. Saturday to limit people in the streets. There were no early reports on what effects the storm had in San Andres.

MEXICO CITY — (AP) — Hurricane Julia closed in on Nicaragua's central Caribbean coast late Saturday after lashing Colombia's San Andres island in a near pass soon after strengthening from a tropical storm in the afternoon. Colombian President Gustavo Petro had declared a “maximum alert” on San Andres as well as Providencia islands to the north and asked hotels to prepare space to shelter the vulnerable population. Officials on San Andres imposed a curfew for residents at 6 a.m. Saturday to limit people in the streets. There were no early reports on what effects the storm had in San Andres. “This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides through this weekend," the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

MEXICO CITY — (AP) — Tropical Storm Julia gained more strength moving westward in the southern Caribbean on Saturday as authorities prepared for a possible hurricane on Colombian islands and in Nicaragua. Julia's maximum sustained winds had increased to 70 mph (110 kph) Saturday afternoon, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. The storm was centered about 55 miles (90 kilometers) east of Providencia Island and moving west at 17 mph (28 kph). Julia was forecast to pass near or over Colombia’s San Andres and Providencia islands Saturday night on its way to landfall in Nicaragua on Sunday morning. “This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides through this weekend," the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Tropical Storm Julia is gaining strength heading westward in the southern Caribbean, and authorities are preparing for a possible hurricane on Colombian islands and in Nicaragua

Hurricane Julia is closing in on Nicaragua’s central Caribbean coast after lashing Colombia’s San Andres island in a near pass soon after strengthening from a tropical storm.

MEXICO CITY — (AP) — Tropical Storm Julia formed Friday in the Caribbean Sea, triggering hurricane watches and warnings for Nicaragua and Colombian islands. Julia had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kmh) and was moving west at 18 mph (30 kmh). The storm was about 110 miles west of the northern tip of Colombia’s Guajira Peninsula. The storm is forecast to brush by Colombia’s San Andres and Providencia islands on its way to landfall in Nicaragua early Sunday. Its remnants will sweep across Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and southern Mexico, a region already saturated by weeks of heavy rains.

The Ford Foundation will commit $80 million over the next five years to work that strengthens nonprofits fighting against authoritarian regimes.

U.S. secretary of State's trip to South America includes a stop at a center in Bogota that connects displaced Venezuelans with government services.

Delegates of Colombia’s government and the nation’s largest remaining guerrilla group announced that they will restart peace talks that were suspended in 2018.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has backed Colombia’s recent efforts to rethink its drug policy and said the Biden administration and Colombia’s newly elected government will work together on rural development programs and interdiction efforts, while sharing intelligence on drug trafficking groups

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken began his South American mission in Bogota, Colombia, before he heads to Santiago, Chile, and Lima, Peru.

Brazil’s top two presidential candidates will face each other in a runoff vote after neither got enough support to win outright in an election to decide if the country returns a leftist to the helm of the world’s fourth-largest democracy or keeps the far-right incumbent in office.

Environmental activist Francia Elena Márquez has been at the vanguard of an awakening among Colombia's long-marginalized Afro-Colombian community.

In speech after speech, world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly are spotlighting Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Leaders from Europe, the Americas and Africa are calling for urgent action and funding to ease a growing global food security crisis.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says his government will act as a “guarantor” in peace talks between Colombia’s government and the National Liberation Army rebel group that are slated to begin later this year

BOGOTA, Colombia — (AP) — The presidents of Colombia and Venezuela on Friday announced that the years-long closure of their countries' shared border to cargo transport will end Sept. 26. “We confirm the government’s commitment to restore brotherly relations,” Petro said. The bridges are currently open to pedestrian traffic. Limited cargo transport is allowed only at one bridge. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

The presidents of Colombia and Venezuela say the years-long closure of their countries’ shared border to cargo transport will end Sept. 26

The presidents of Colombia and Venezuela say the years-long closure of their countries’ shared border to cargo transport will end Sept. 26.

Police in Colombia are investigating the murder of two journalists who were gunned down while returning home from a county fair

The governments of Venezuela and Colombia have taken a step toward normalizing ties after President Nicolás Maduro hosted an event to welcome the newly appointed ambassador from the neighboring South American country, a post that had been empty since 2019 over a diplomatic impasse

Colombia’s new police director says the country has suspended forced eradication of coca fields and will focus on intercepting cocaine shipments while providing farmers with incentives to adopt legal crops

The delegations of the Colombian government and the guerrilla National Liberation Army announced on Friday that they are committed to taking the necessary steps to try to reactivate the peace negotiations suspended four years ago. (AP Photo/Ismael Francisco) (Ismael Francisco)HAVANA — (AP) — A Colombian guerrilla group says it has freed six captive soldiers in a goodwill gesture ahead of planned peace talks with the government of new President Gustavo Petro. The release of the soldiers was a “unilateral humanitarian gesture″ that recognized efforts by the Colombian government to facilitate the resumption of dialogue, said the rebel National Liberation Army, known by its Spanish acronym ELN. It included images of the soldiers during their release, as several rebels in uniform stood nearby. Representatives of Petro and the ELN met last week in Cuba to explore the possibility of resuming talks.

A Colombian guerrilla group says it has freed six captive soldiers in a goodwill gesture ahead of planned peace talks with the government of new President Gustavo Petro

A Colombian guerrilla group says it has freed six captive members of the security forces in a goodwill gesture ahead of planned peace talks with the government of new President Gustavo Petro.

Colombia’s new government and members of the nation’s last guerrilla group are moving toward restarting peace talks that were suspended three years ago in Cuba

GOP Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Mike Turner, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago and the investigation into Donald Trump.

(AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Fernando Vergara)BOGOTA, Colombia — (AP) — Colombia’s first leftist president presented an ambitious tax plan on Monday that aims to raise up to $11 billion a year for anti-poverty programs. Less than 24 hours after taking his presidential oath, the new president presented a tax reform plan to his nation’ s congress that will increase income taxes on wealthy individuals and place a 10% levy on oil exports. Last year, an effort by conservative President Iván Duque to raise income taxes and some sales taxes sparked massive protests in which more than 50 people were killed. Petro’s incoming finance minister said the new tax reform plan will only attempt to raise income taxes on the wealthiest 2% of individuals. Colombia’s congress will now have to debate Petro’s proposed plan, which is expected to affect several areas of the economy.

Colombia’s first leftist president has presented an ambitious tax plan that aims to raise up to $11 billion a year for anti-poverty programs.

Sen. Gustavo Petro won the presidential election in June by beating conservative parties who failed to connect with frustrated voters.

Colombia New President Supporters of new President Gustavo Petro display a painting of him with new Vice-President Francia Marquez as they wait for their swearing-in ceremony at the Bolivar square in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (Ariana Cubillos)BOGOTA, Colombia — (AP) — Colombia’s first leftist president was sworn into office Sunday, promising to fight inequality and heralding a turning point in the history of a country haunted by a long war between the government and guerrilla groups. Petro, 62, has promised to tackle Colombia's social and economic inequalities by boosting spending on anti-poverty programs and increasing investment in rural areas. The risk Petro faces is that he goes after too many reforms at once and gets nothing” through Colombia’s congress. That’s a big change for Colombia where previous presidential inaugurations were more somber events limited to a few hundred VIP guests.

Colombia New President Supporters of new President Gustavo Petro display a flag as they wait for his swearing-in ceremony at the Bolivar square in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (Ariana Cubillos)BOGOTA, Colombia — (AP) — Colombia’s first leftist president will be sworn into office Sunday, promising to fight inequality and heralding a turning point in the history of a country haunted by a long war between the government and guerrilla groups. Petro, 62, has promised to tackle Colombia's social and economic inequalities by boosting spending on anti-poverty programs and increasing investment in rural areas. The risk Petro faces is that he goes after too many reforms at once and gets nothing” through Colombia’s congress. That’s a big change for Colombia where previous presidential inaugurations were more somber events limited to a few hundred VIP guests.

Sen. Gustavo Petro won the presidential election by beating conservative parties who failed to connect with frustrated voters.

Colombia's first leftist president will be sworn into office Sunday, promising to fight inequality and heralding a turning point in the history of the country.

Colombia Petro Colombia's President-elect Gustavo Petro speaks to students at Externado University in Bogota, Colombia, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. Petro gave a talk to students at his alma mater where he studied economics, ahead of his Aug. 7 inauguration. Petro, 62, has promised to tackle Colombia's social and economic inequalities by boosting spending on anti-poverty programs and increasing investment in rural areas. The risk Petro faces is that he goes after too many reforms at once and gets nothing” through Colombia’s congress. That’s a big change for Colombia where previous presidential inaugurations were more somber events limited to a few hundred VIP guests.

Colombia’s first leftist President will be sworn into office on Sunday, in a colorful ceremony that marks a turning point in the South American nation’s history

Colombia’s first leftist president has been sworn into office, promising to fight inequality and bring peace to a country long haunted by bloody feuds between the government, drug traffickers and rebel groups.

The U.N. special envoy for Colombia says that “there are good reasons for optimism” about the country’s incoming left-leaning administration

BOGOTA, Colombia — (AP) — Cocaine production in Colombia remained near record levels in 2021, according to estimates released on Thursday by the White House, raising the stakes for bilateral cooperation between the United States and Colombia's next administration. The figures for cocaine production are slightly lower than in 2020, when the nation produced 994 tons of cocaine and planted 245,000 hectares of coca, according to the White House’s annual study. But cocaine production is still significantly higher than ten years ago, when Colombia produced an estimated 273 tons of the drug. In its statement, the White House also noted that cocaine production remains high in Peru and Bolivia, which are the world’s second and third largest producers of the drug. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24,500 people in the United States died in 2021 from cocaine overdoses, while fentanyl overdoses killed 71,000 people.

Cocaine production in Colombia remained near record levels in 2021, according to estimates released by the White House, raising the stakes for bilateral cooperation between the United States and Colombia’s next administration

Colombia US Ambassador FILE - Luis Gilberto Murillo gives a press conference to announce he is the running mate of presidential candidate Sergio Fajardo in Bogota, Colombia, March 17, 2022. Colombia's President-elect Gustavo Petro appointed Murillo as the country's new ambassador to the United States, on July 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara, File) (Fernando Vergara)WASHINGTON — (AP) — A veteran Afro-Colombian politician who studied in the Soviet Union and fled his homeland after being kidnapped by a paramilitary group has been tapped to become Colombia's first Black ambassador to the United States. But as ambassador for Colombia's first leftist government, he'll need more than deep connections to stabilize a bilateral relationship in what some fear could be a rocky transition. In 2000, Murillo was kidnapped by paramilitary groups and later fled to Washington with his family.

A veteran Afro-Colombian politician who studied in the Soviet Union and fled his country after being kidnapped by a paramilitary group has been named Colombia’s next ambassador to the United States.

The blaze spread after inmates set fire to mattresses during a riot early Monday, Tito Castellanos, director of the national prison system, told local media outlets.

Hundreds were also injured in the collapse.

Tolima health secretary Martha Palacios said in a press conference that 322 people had gone to local public and private hospitals.

BOGOTA, Colombia — (AP) — Part of the wooden stands collapsed during a bullfight in central Colombia Sunday, sending spectators plunging to the ground and killing at least four people and seriously injuring about 30, authorities said. The disaster took place in a stadium in the city of El Espinal in Tolima state during a traditional event called “corraleja” in which members of the public enter the ring to engage the bulls. Videos taken during the bullfight show a three-story section of the stands collapsing as people screamed. “We have activated the hospital network in Tolima,” Tolima Gov. “We lament the terrible tragedy registered in El Espinal, Tolima, during the festivals of San Pedro and San Juan, with the collapse of the stands during a corraleja.

Part of the wooden stands have collapsed during a bullfight in central Colombia, sending spectators plunging to the ground and killing at least four people and injuring 30 seriously

ArrowRight The tragedy took place in El Espinal, a small town located some 95 miles from Bogotá. Otherwise we’d be talking about a much bigger tragedy,” Ortiz told The Washington Post. The bullring is erected for a spectacle that was originated on the Caribbean coast when Colombia was a Spanish colony. Over 500 people died and more than 2,000 were wounded when the makeshift stands there collapsed. Having witnessed the afternoon’s deaths and injuries first hand, Ortiz is predicting, “I think this is the end for corralejas in El Espinal.”GiftOutline Gift Article

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau quipped about Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 26 at the G-7 summit.

Colombia President Amazon Rainforest FILE - Local residents navigate the Amazon River near Leticia, Colombia, Sept. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara, File) (Fernando Vergara)RIO DE JANEIRO — (AP) — Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first elected leftist president, will take office in August with ambitious proposals to halt the record-high rates of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. In 2021, the Colombian Amazon lost 98000 hectares (more than 240,000 acres) of pristine forest to deforestation and another 9,000 hectares (22,000 acres) to fire. Fifteen percent of the Colombian Amazon has already been deforested, according to Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development, or FCDS. In 2020, under the Paris Agreement, Colombian President Ivan Duque's government committed to a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030.

Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first elected leftist president, will take office in August with ambitious proposals to halt the record-high deforestation rates in the Amazon.

Colombia Election Former rebel Gustavo Petro and his running mate Francia Marquez, celebrate before supporters after winning a runoff presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, June 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Fernando Vergara)BOGOTÁ, Colombia — (AP) — President-elect Gustavo Petro, who has vowed to lift up Colombia’s poor and disenfranchised, has won the support of an influential party of the establishment as he tries to build a majority coalition in Congress. Petro won the second round on Sunday in a blow to political traditionalists who have presided for generations over Colombia, through violence and corruption, as well as economic growth and institutional stability. Details still have to be worked out regarding the Liberal’s Party role in a governing coalition and how it can collaborate with 62-year-old Petro’s camp, he said. A coalition including the Liberals and other allies would bring it closer to a parliamentary majority.

President-elect Gustavo Petro, who has vowed to lift up Colombia’s poor and disenfranchised, has won the support of an influential party of the establishment as he tries to build a majority coalition in Congress.

The Latin American nation has voted out its pro-business political establishment. But to stand a chance of meeting sky-high expectations, president-elect Gustavo Petro needs moderation.

APTOPIX Colombia Election Gustavo Petro, presidential candidate with the Historical Pact coalition, shows his ballot before voting in a presidential runoff in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, June 19, 2022. But Gustavo Petro’s election as Colombia’s first leftist president is likely to test the U.S.’ special relationship with a major non-NATO ally like never before. Every year, under special presidential order, Colombia extradites dozens of drug traffickers charged in the U.S. Instead, he would favor expanding crop substitution programs that provide credit, training and land rights to rural farmers. That in part reflects what, until recently, had been the limited prospects for the left in the socially conservative country.

It’s one of the United States’ few enduring alliances in an often-turbulent Latin America, one built around a decades-long partnership combating the nation’s drug cartels.

(AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Fernando Vergara)BOGOTA, Colombia — (AP) — As Colombia's voters put aside a longtime antipathy to leftists and chose one as their new president, they also carved out another milestone — electing the country's first Black vice president. The politician has faced numerous death threats for her environmental work and has emerged as a powerful spokeswoman for Black Colombians and other marginalized communities. Most politicians in Colombia who have held the presidency have not lived in the way she has,” Sanchez said. Marquez said Sunday that part of her mission as vice president will be to reduce inequality. They said her presence on Petro's ticket also motivated Afro-Colombian voters along the Pacific coast, where Petro won by big margins Sunday even as he barely won the contest by three percentage points.

As Colombia’s voters put aside a longtime antipathy to leftists and chose one as their new president, they also have carved out another milestone — electing the country’s first Black vice president

As Colombia’s voters put aside a longtime antipathy to leftists and chose one as their new president, they also have carved out another milestone — electing the country's first Black vice president.

Leftist Gustavo Petro’s victory in Colombia was the most stunning example yet of how the pandemic has transformed the politics of Latin America.

Colombia Election Gustavo Petro, presidential candidate with the Historical Pact coalition, waves upon his arrival to vote in a presidential runoff in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, June 19, 2022. Chile, Peru and Honduras elected leftist presidents in 2021, and in Brazil, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is leading the polls for this year’s presidential election. Abstentionism has been above 40% in every presidential election since 1990. While her election is historic, some see her as a potential obstacle for Petro for her unwillingness to make concessions to traditional parties. Sergio Guzmán, founder of the firm Colombia Risk Analysis, said Petro must show an openness to sharing cabinet positions with other parties.

Colombia for the first time elected a leftist as its next president, but the slim victory is a cue that a large portion of the country rejects the ambitious proposals of Gustavo Petro.

The vote is also resulting in Colombia having a Black woman as vice president for the first time.

Colombia will be governed by a leftist president for the first time after former rebel Gustavo Petro narrowly defeated a real estate millionaire in a runoff election that underscored people’s disgust with the country’s traditional politicians.

Former rebel Gustavo Petro has narrowly won a runoff election in Colombia over a political outsider millionaire, ushering in a new era of politics by becoming the country’s first leftist president.

Colombians can count on one thing: The country’s presidential politics will drastically change after Sunday’s runoff election.

Leftist Sen. Gustavo Petro celebrated his first-round lead in Colombia’s presidential election in the way most politicians would: showered with confetti before hundreds of supporters.

A leftist former rebel and a populist businessman have taken the top two spots among the six candidates in Colombia’s presidential election and are heading to a runoff showdown in June, delivering a blow to the country's political class.

Colombians will pick from six candidates in a presidential ballot being held Sunday amid a generalized feeling the country is heading in the wrong direction.

A one-time rebel fighter has used an emotional anti-establishment discourse and promises to boost state involvement in the economy to garner a commanding lead in polls as Colombia heads into Sunday's presidential election.

Colombian presidential frontrunner Gustavo Petro pledged that he will not nationalize private property if he wins the nation’s presidency this year as critics in the South American country accuse the leftist candidate of wanting to make radical changes to the country’s free market economy.

Colombians have voted for a new congress and also cast ballots in presidential primaries to choose party candidates for the May presidential contest.

Colombia’s Constitutional Court has ruled that women can get abortions until the 24th week of pregnancy without any permits from lawyers or doctors.

Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, who was held as a hostage for six years by Colombia’s largest guerrilla group, says she will be running for her country’s presidency.

A former rebel leader in Colombia who would undo antinarcotics cooperation with the U.S. is looking to capitalize on the biggest antigovernment unrest in decades and ride it to the presidency next year.