Thousands of Colombians protest Petro’s economic, social reforms
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Tens of thousands of Colombians marched on Sunday to reject economic and social reforms being proposed by the leftist government of President Gustavo Petro, the latest in a series of demonstrations against Petro’s policies. The reforms, which Petro says will fight deep inequality but which opponents say will damage the country’s already-struggling […]
Colombia capital Bogota to ration water as reservoirs dry
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Colombia’s capital Bogota will start rationing water this week to alleviate droughts wrought by the El Nino weather pattern, which has exacerbated the Andean country’s dry season and caused reservoir levels to fall, Mayor Carlos Galan said on Monday. The restrictions will also apply to 11 municipalities close to the capital, affecting […]
Thousands march in Colombia to protest government reforms
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Thousands of people marched through Colombia’s biggest cities on Wednesday to protest political, economic and social reforms backed by President Gustavo Petro, as well as to demand action against deteriorating security. Leftist Petro was elected in 2022 on ambitious promises to fight poverty and inequality, and end Colombia’s six decades of internal […]
Colombian unions march in support of aid bills for working class and poor
Bogota, ColombiaReuters Thousands of Colombian protesters returned to the streets of major cities on Tuesday to once again demand that Congress approve union-backed social policies to benefit the poorest. The marchers – their numbers much reduced from a peak earlier this year – also demonstrated against a nearly $US4 billion tax reform approved this month […]
Rooftops to railways: neighbourhoods race to hit net zero climate goals
Durban, South AfricaThomson Reuters Foundation Tackling climate change at a city level – let alone on a global scale – is time-consuming, but neighbourhoods are being targeted as testing grounds for speedy, community-led climate solutions. Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November, engineering company Arup and the C40 Cities network have launched […]
Colombia’s COVID-19 deaths pass 100,000 in unrelenting third wave
Bogota, ColombiaReuters Reported deaths from COVID-19 in Colombia passed 100,000 on Monday, the country’s health ministry said, amid warnings of potential scarcity of treatment drugs and oxygen in hospitals during a long and brutal third peak of infections and deaths. The country of 50 million people has reported more than 3.9 million cases of coronavirus […]
Thousands march in Colombia’s Bogota to demand end to protests, roadblocks
Bogota, ColombiaReuters Waving flags and dressed in white, thousands marched in Colombia’s capital Bogota on Sunday to demand an end to protests and roadblocks, as well as to express support for security forces, following a month of demonstrations. “They [the roadblocks] are taking the cities hostage. They are stopping the economy,” Patricia Gonzalez, 45, said. […]
With ICUs nearly full, Colombia surpasses 80,000 COVID-19 deaths
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in Colombia passed 80,000 on Friday with intensive care units almost full in the biggest cities, where large crowds have been gathering for weeks of anti-government protests. Authorities warned this week that the demonstrations – initially called in opposition to a now-cancelled tax reform but which have expanded […]
Thousands march in Colombia as President urges rejection of violence
Bogota/Cali, ColombiaReuters Union members, students, pensioners and workers marched in anti-government protests around Colombia on Wednesday, as President Ivan Duque urged citizens to reject violence and stereotypes about demonstrators and police alike. The sometimes deadly demonstrations were initially fueled in late April by outrage at a now-cancelled tax plan. But protesters’ demands have expanded to […]
How walkable is your city? London, Hong Kong put pedestrians first
Bangkok, ThailandThomson Reuters Foundation Urban planners and local authorities must improve walkability in cities to tackle poor health and social inequality, researchers said on Thursday, after the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the importance of being able to walk easily and safely. The cities of Paris, London, Bogota and Hong Kong are among the most walkable in […]