Colombia’s Chiribiquete park to receive $US1 million annually for at least 30 years
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Colombia’s parks agency, the Frankfurt Zoological Society and German fund Legacy Landscapes on Thursday launched a financial mechanism to fund Chiribiquete National Park with $US1 million each year for at least 30 years. Chiribiquete, Colombia’s largest national park, is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The fund will pay toward the […]
US, 17 other countries urge Hamas to release hostages, end Gaza crisis
Washington DC, US Reuters The United States and 17 other countries on Thursday issued an appeal for Hamas to release all of its hostages as a pathway to end the crisis in Gaza, but Hamas vowed not to relent to international pressure. “We call for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in […]
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 Amazon deforestation forecast down 25 per cent to 35 per cent last year, ministry says
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Deforestation in Colombia’s Amazon region is forecast to have declined by 25 per cent to 35 per cent in 2023, Environment Minister Susana Muhamad said on Monday, while warning that evidence shows that destruction has increased so far in 2024. Colombia is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, with thousands of […]
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 […]
Colombia talks with EMC armed group in crisis, analysts say
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Peace talks in Colombia between the government and the Estado Mayor Central are in crisis, threatening to end negotiations and ramp up clashes between the armed group and the country’s military, analysts said on Thursday. Over the weekend, the government of President Gustavo Petro suspended a bilateral ceasefire with the EMC, a […]
Colombia decree suspends ceasefire with EMC armed group in three areas
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Colombia will suspend its months-long ceasefire with the Estado Mayor Central (ECM) armed group in three provinces on Wednesday, a government decree said on Sunday, citing incidents of violence that broke the ceasefire. The EMC – founded by former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels who reject the […]
Peace deal with Colombia unlikely before end of Petro’s term-EMC rebel leader
San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia Reuters It will be difficult for the Estado Mayor Central (EMC) armed group to sign a peace deal with the Colombian government before President Gustavo Petro finishes his term in 2026, despite trust between the two sides, a major leader of the EMC told Reuters on the sidelines of peace […]
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 […]
World Bank, Gates, UN pledge close to $US600 million to end cervical cancer
London, UK Reuters Global health donors pledged nearly $US600 million towards eliminating cervical cancer on Tuesday, at the first global forum dedicated to fighting the disease. The World Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UN children’s agency UNICEF said in a joint statement that the funding would go towards expanding access to […]