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☆ Ecuador referendum: Early results and gang member’s arrest give President Daniel Noboa’s war on crime a boost
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Abel Alvarado | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Early results from Ecuador’s referendum suggest President Daniel Noboa has won public backing for security measures aimed at boosting his war on crime. And the good news for Noboa was compounded Monday when police announced they had arrested a notorious alleged gang leader. Both those proposals would require modifying Ecuador’s Constitution, which currently forbids the extradition of Ecuadorians under any circumstances. Gang leader arrestedIn another boost for Noboa, police said in a post on X that they had arrested notorious alleged gang leader Fabricio Colon Pico on Monday morning. Thirty-eight other inmates had escaped along with Colon Pico, of which 12 have since been recaptured, Ecuador’s penitentiary service told CNN.

Persons: Daniel Noboa, Noboa, ”, Guillermo Lasso, Fabricio Colon Pico, Colon Pico, Diana Salazar, Colon Pico’s jailbreak, – José Adolfo Macías, Choneros – Organizations: CNN, National Electoral Council, National Assembly, Noboa, Los Lobos Locations: Ecuadorians, Quito, Ecuadorian, Riobamba

This is called judicial criminality,” Machado said of Friday's ruling by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice. The longtime government foe was able to participate, because the primary was organized by a commission independent of Venezuela’s electoral authorities. On Monday, she sought to reassure supporters, telling them that her campaign is “stronger than ever” and she will represent them during the presidential election. The court and the National Electoral Council, the country’s electoral body, are stacked with people affiliated with the ruling party. "Should there be an aggressive action, our response will be calm, reciprocal and energetic.”___Zeke Miller contributed to this report from Washington.

Persons: María Corina Machado, ”, Machado, Nicolás Maduro, ” Machado, “, Friday’s, Maduro, They’ve, John Kirby, Elvis Amoroso, Tarek William Saab, Roberto Abdul, Gerardo Blyde, Jorge Rodríguez, Blyde, Rodríguez, ” Rodríguez, ___ Zeke Miller Organizations: Monday, Justice, National Security, of American, Electoral Council, U.S Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, Venezuelan, United States, Venezuela's, U.S, Barbados, Spain, Latin America, Washington

☆ U.S. reviewing Venezuelan sanctions policy in wake of court decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It is "an evident and overwhelming victory for the 'Yes' in this consultative referendum," said the president of the National Electoral Council, Elvis Amoroso. "The United States is currently reviewing our Venezuela sanctions policy, based on this development and the recent political targeting of democratic opposition candidates and civil society," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. Miller said the court ruling was a "deeply concerning decision" that ran contrary to the commitments made by Maduro to allow all parties to select candidates. Gerardo Blyde, head of the opposition negotiating team, denied members had been linked to acts of violence and demanded the court ruling be reversed. "We will never hesitate to remain in the talks, to remain in the discussion," said Hector Rodriguez, the ruling party governor for Venezuela's Miranda state.

Persons: Nicolás, Elvis Amoroso, Pedro Rances Mattey, PEDRO RANCES MATTEY, Maria Corina Machado, Machado, Matthew Miller, Nicolas Maduro's, Miller, Maduro, Gerardo Blyde, Hector Rodriguez, Miranda Organizations: Bolivarian, Electoral, Venezuelan, Electoral Council, Getty, U.S . State Department, Venezuela's, Department Locations: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Essequibo, Caracas, Guyana, AFP, U.S, Venezuela, United States

☆ Venezuelans vote to claim sovereignty over a part of oil-rich nation Guyana
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Venezuelan electoral authorities on December 3 claimed that 95 percent of voters in a nonbinding referendum approved of the nation's territorial claim on a huge chunk of neighboring oil-rich Guyana. The 61,600 square-mile Essequibo region makes up two-thirds of Guyana, and holds enormous oil reserves off its coast. Venezuela believes that Guyana has no right to grant oil concessions in the maritime areas off the disputed territory. In 1899, an international arbitral tribunal awarded the territory to Britain, when Guyana was still under its colonial rule. Maduro in November accused Guyana, the U.S. and oil firms of robbing Venezuela of its territory through "legal colonialism."

Persons: Nicolás, Elvis Amoroso, Pedro Rances Mattey, PEDRO RANCES MATTEY, Nicolas Maduro's Organizations: Bolivarian, Electoral, Venezuelan, Electoral Council, Getty Images, Voters, Associated Press, ExxonMobil, Court of Locations: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Essequibo, Caracas, Guyana, AFP, Venezuela's, Venezuela, Venezuelan, Britain, U.S

☆ Guyana will stay alert after Venezuela vote on territorial dispute -VP
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. State Department said on Monday it supports a peaceful resolution of the dispute and that the issue could not be solved by a referendum. Venezuelans on Sunday backed the rejection of ICJ jurisdiction over the dispute and the creation of a new state in Esequibo. Analysts have said the vote was an attempt by President Nicolas Maduro to gauge his government's support ahead of a 2024 presidential election. Maduro has assured Caribbean countries that he will not invade the region, Jagdeo said, but Guyana will not let its guard down. "A new era in the fight for our Guayana Esequiba has begun," he added, using the proposed name for the new Venezuelan state.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Jorge Rodriguez, Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, Bharrat Jagdeo, Maduro, Jagdeo, Esequiba, Mayela Armas, Deisy, Julia Symmes Cobb, Richard Chang Organizations: Venezuelan National, Electoral Council, National Electoral Council, Justice's, International Court of Justice, U.S . State Department, Sunday, ICJ, Conference of, Guyanese, Thomson Locations: Venezuelan, CARACAS, Guyana, Esequibo, Venezuela, Dubai, Caracas, Bogota

☆ Venezuelans approve takeover of oil-rich region of Guyana in referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( David Shortell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Venezuelans voted by a wide margin Sunday to approve the takeover of an oil-rich region in neighboring Guyana – the latest escalation in a long-running territorial dispute between the two countries, fueled by the recent discovery of vast offshore energy resources. The area in question, the densely forested Essequibo region, amounts to about two-thirds of Guyana’s national territory and is roughly the size of Florida. Venezuela has long claimed the land, which it argues was within its borders during the Spanish colonial period. It dismisses an 1899 ruling by international arbitrators that set the current boundaries when Guyana was still a British colony, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has cast the referendum in anti-imperialist sentiment on social media. Still, the escalating rhetoric has prompted troop movements in the region and saber-rattling in both countries, drawing comparisons from Guyanese leaders to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Irfaan Ali, Robert Persaud, Maria Corina Machado, Maduro, ”, Phil Gunson Organizations: CNN, Guyana –, Venezuelan, Electoral Council, Guyanese, Court of Justice, International Crisis Locations: Guyana, Essequibo, Florida, Venezuelan, Venezuela, British, The Hague, Ukraine, Guyanese, Caracas

The opposition and the primary's winner Maria Corina Machado have insisted repeatedly it was transparent and fair. The U.S. State Department is aware of the accusations and called for an investigation, a spokesperson said, adding the primary was "an important milestone" for Venezuela. The investigation, requested by lawmaker Jose Brito, will center on accusations of electoral violations, financial crimes and conspiracy, Saab said during a press conference. The electoral violations stem from the primary being organized without the National Electoral Council, Saab said. Voter rolls for the primary included 2 million people who neither registered nor participated, Saab said, and financing for the primary has not been made public.

Persons: Tarek Saab, Maria Corina Machado, Machado, Nicolas Maduro's, Nicolas Maduro, Jose Brito, Saab, Jesus Maria Casal, Mildred Camero, Roberto Abdul, Hadi, Vivian Sequera, Mayela Armas, Julia Symmes Cobb, Natalia Siniawski, Oliver Griffin, Helen Popper, Marguerita Choy, Rod Nickel Organizations: Venezuela's, Washington, U.S . State Department, Electoral Council, Saab, Voters, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, Washington, Maduro, Barbados, U.S, Venezuela, Sumate

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s chief prosecutor on Wednesday announced a criminal investigation into organizers of this past weekend's primary election that was meant to let voters choose an opposition candidate to run against President Nicolás Maduro next year. Attorney General Tarek William Saab told reporters the probe would look at allegations including that the independent National Primary Commission that organized Sunday's balloting was illegally usurping the duties of a government entity. The latest partial results released by the commission showed at least 2.3 million people within Venezuela and more than 132,000 outside the country voted Sunday. Machado, a former lawmaker, already has declared herself the winner after results showed her far ahead of nine other candidates. The partial results showed that with about 92% of tally sheets counted, Machado had 2,253,825 votes, or 92.35% of the total.

Persons: — Venezuela’s, Nicolás Maduro, Tarek William Saab, María Corina Machado, Saab, buffoonery, ” Saab, “, Machado Organizations: Wednesday, Commission, Saab, Electoral Council Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela

Maria Corina Machado, candidate of the Vente Venezuela party for the opposition primaries, meets with her supporters after a press conference, in Caracas, Venezuela September 6, 2023. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCARACAS, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Venezuela's opposition will hold a primary on Sunday to pick its candidate for 2024 presidential elections, despite the front-runner being barred from holding office. The primary is the first the opposition has held in 11 years. It has not backed a presidential candidate in a general election since 2013. Officials who are found guilty of corruption are banned from holding public office for up to 15 years.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro, Juan Guaido, Machado, Vivian Sequera, Oliver Griffin, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Electoral, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Caracas, Rights CARACAS, U.S, Washington

Any U.S. action would come only after Venezuela's opposition and Maduro's representatives sign an agreement under which he commits to a presidential election date and to the lifting of bans on some opposition candidates, these two sources said. It would also allow participation of opposition figures who are currently barred from holding office, the source added. Reuters reported last week, citing five sources, that Venezuela and the United States had progressed in talks that could allow at least one additional foreign oil firm to take Venezuelan crude oil for debt repayment if Maduro resumed negotiations with the opposition. Two of those sources had named France's Maurel & Prom (MAUP.PA), a joint venture partner with Venezuela state-run oil company PDVSA, as a possible recipient of a comfort letter. The return to talks was announced in a statement published by Norway, an observer of the talks, which are meant to provide a way out of Venezuela's long-running political and economic crisis.

Persons: Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, Jesus Maria Casal, Venezuela's, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, Maduro's, Maurel, Maria Corina Machado, Mayela Armas, Matt Spetalnick, Marianna Parraga, Julia Symmes Cobb Organizations: Electoral Council, Primary Commission, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, WASHINGTON, United States, Washington, Barbados, U.S, mull, Israel, Norway, Houston

The negotiations, meant to provide a way out of Venezuela's long-running political and economic crisis, will take place in Barbados. The U.S. State Department celebrated the announcement of the return to talks but did not mention sanctions relief. Some members of the opposition said on Monday that they doubted Maduro would follow through on his promises. But with no substantial investment in Venezuela's oil sector for over a decade, any real oil output increase will take time, according to analysts. The return to talks between Maduro's government and the opposition was announced in a statement published by Norway, an observer.

Persons: Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, Jesus Maria Casal, Venezuela's, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump's, Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Maurel, PDVSA, Maduro's, Washington, Biden, John Barrasso, Mayela Armas, Matt Spetalnick, Marianna Parraga, Julia Symmes Cobb, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Electoral Council, Primary Commission, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . State Department, Reuters, U.S, Republican U.S, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, WASHINGTON, HOUSTON, Washington, U.S, Maduro, Barbados, United States, Venezuelan, The U.S, Qatar, China, Russia, Cuba, Ukraine, OPEC, America, Norway, Houston

Voter turnout was “historic” at 82.33% despite initial security concerns, Ecuador’s National Electoral Council president Diana Atamaint said after polls closed Sunday. “We will inform the country of the first results as the votes are processed,” she said. Ecuador’s Interior Minister Juan Zapata also assured the country in a news conference that there had been no security incidents to report. “Governing Ecuador right now is hell – this presidency is designed to eliminate you from political life,” Freeman said. The new president will have relatively little time to work on a solution to the country’s woes.

Persons: Luisa González, Daniel Noboa, Fernando Villavicencio, Diana Atamaint, “, Atamaint, Juan Zapata, Guillermo Lasso, ” Will Freeman, Rafael Correa, González, César Ortiz, Ortiz, ” Freeman Organizations: CNN, Electoral, Nacional, Council, Foreign Relations, Movimiento Revolución Locations: Ecuador, Sucumbios, America, Belgium, Peru, Colombia, Europe, Quito

QUITO/GUAYAQUIL, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Business heir Daniel Noboa on Sunday won Ecuador's presidential election, vowing to rebuild the South American country, which is struggling with a weak economy and rising crime and violence. "From tomorrow Daniel Noboa starts work as your new president," he added. "Daniel Noboa, our profound congratulations, because this is democracy," Gonzalez told supporters in Quito, calling on Noboa to fulfill his promises to students and the elderly. [1/16]Ecuadorian presidential candidate Daniel Noboa and his wife Lavinia Valbonesi celebrate his win in the presidential election, in Santa Elena, Ecuador. Analysts have said a Noboa victory initially could be perceived as positive by investors, but longer-term outlook will depend on his cabinet appointments.

Persons: Daniel Noboa, Noboa, Fernando Villavicencio, Alvaro, Luisa Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Lavinia Valbonesi, Santiago Arcos, Eduardo Chavez, Diana Atamaint, Correa, Guillermo Lasso, Alexandra Valencia, Yury Garcia, Tito Correa, Rodrigo Campos, Julia Symmes Cobb, Diane Craft, Bill Berkrot, Deepa Babington, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Sunday, Ecuadorian, Santiago, National Democratic, Thomson Locations: QUITO, GUAYAQUIL, American, Ecuador, Olon, Quito, Santa Elena, Guayaquil, Sucumbios, Nicaragua, Russia, Belarus, Israel, Canuto, New York

☆ Venezuela Readying Return to Mexico-Based Talks With Opposition -Sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The talks between President Nicolas Maduro's government and the opposition are meant to find solutions to Venezuela's long-running political and economic crisis. The opposition will repeat its long-standing petition for release of political prisoners and guarantees for an election slated for 2024, two sources close to preparations for the talks said. Envoys from Caracas and Washington have met several times in Doha since last year in separate conversations, according to other sources with knowledge of those talks, but Venezuela's opposition did not directly participate. One source said the Venezuelan government had broadly discussed electoral issues at the Qatar talks, but had not entered into detail about guarantees. The United States announced on Thursday it will restart deportations of Venezuelans who cross the U.S.-Mexico border unlawfully, an agreement two of the sources said was achieved during the Doha talks.

Persons: Marianna Parraga, Diego Oré, Mayela Armas, Nicolas Maduro's, Delcy Rodriguez, Henrique Capriles, Vivian Sequera, Matt Spetalnick, Andrew Mills, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: MEXICO CITY, U.S . State Department, Venezuela's Foreign Affairs, Reuters, White, United States, Doha Locations: Mayela Armas HOUSTON, MEXICO, CARACAS, Mexico, U.S, Caracas, Washington, Doha, Qatar, United States, Venezuela, Venezuelan, Houston, Diego Ore, Mexico City, Washinghton

Jesus Maria Casal, president of Venezuela's opposition's National Primary Commission, leaves after a meeting with Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, head of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE), in Caracas, Venezuela September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCARACAS, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Venezuela's opposition election commission said on Monday it will move forward with its late October primary vote to pick its presidential candidate for next year's general election, after the country's national electoral council sought a delay. But most of the 13 opposition candidates rejected this request, preferring to keep the Oct. 22 primary, while criticizing what they called a slow CNE response. Venezuela's opposition counts some 3,000 voting centers, according to commission president Jesus Maria Casal. Venezuelan authorities have in recent months disqualified some opposition candidates, including former lawmaker Maria Corina Machado, the opposition's leading hopeful in polls.

Persons: Jesus Maria Casal, Venezuela's, Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro's, Maria Corina Machado, Vivian Sequera, Mayela Armas, Sarah Morland, David Alire Garcia, Sonali Paul Organizations: Primary Commission, Electoral Council, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS

CNN —Ecuadorians have voted to ban oil drilling in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, the Yasuní National Park, situated in the Amazon rainforest. The Yasuní National Park park spans around 1 million hectares (2.5 million acres) at the meeting point of the Amazon, the Andes and the Equator. In 2016, the Ecuadorian state oil company began drilling in Block 43 – around 0.01% of the National Park – which today produces more than 55,000 barrels a day, amounting to around 12% of Ecuador’s oil production. Yasunidos, an environmental collective, has been pushing for the vote to ban drilling in the park for a decade. “This referendum presents a huge opportunity for us to create change in a tangible way,” Helena Gualinga, an Indigenous rights advocate from a remote village in the Ecuadorian Amazon, told CNN.

Persons: CNN — Ecuadorians, Rafael Correa, Fernando Santos, ” Santos, ” Helena Gualinga, Yasunidos, Mitch Anderson, Fernando L, Ecuadorians, ”, Luisa González, Daniel Noboa Organizations: CNN, Electoral, Movimiento Revolución Locations: Ecuador, Europe, North America, Ecuadorian

Gonzalez is set to face the surprise second-place finisher Daniel Noboa in a run-off election in October, according to the National Electoral Council of Ecuador (CNE), as neither candidate won more than 50% of the ballot. Ecuador presidential candidate Daniel Noboa makes remarks as he arrives to participate in a presidential debate on August 13. Crime has topped the agenda of this year’s presidential race, which was punctuated by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, an outspoken anti-corruption journalist. Gunfire interrupted Noboa’s caravan on Thursday as he was traveling in Guayas province, but authorities say the presidential candidate was not the target of the incident. But the winner of October’s run-off vote will have relatively little time to work on a solution.

Persons: CNN — Luisa González, Gonzalez, Daniel Noboa, Ecuadorians, Diana Atamaint, González, Rafael Correa –, Álvaro Noboa –, Guillermo Lasso, Karen Toro, Fernando Villavicencio, Pedro Briones, Christian Zurita, October’s Organizations: CNN, Movimiento Revolución, Sunday, Electoral, Accion Democratica Nacional, Electoral Council Locations: Ecuador, Belgium, Esmeraldas province, Guayas, Quito, Russia, Ukraine, China, Bangladesh

☆ Ecuador presidential hopeful Zurita promises better policing, social programs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Ecuadorean presidential candidate Christian Zurita, who has replaced assassinated presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, speaks during an interview with Reuters prior to Sunday's presidential election, in Quito, Ecuador August 15, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Romero Acquire Licensing RightsQUITO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Ecuador presidential hopeful Christian Zurita, who is running in place of his friend, slain candidate Fernando Villavicencio, said on Tuesday he would better equip the police and enshrine intelligence protocols to fight crime, and use international loans to shore up social programs. Like his predecessor, Zurita is an investigative journalist known for tracking alleged corruption. The two men worked on 300 investigations together over the last decade, Zurita, 53, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday. Villavicencio's death must be thoroughly investigated, Zurita added, and given how much corruption Villavicencio exposed, the suspect list is long.

Persons: Christian Zurita, Fernando Villavicencio, Henry Romero, Villavicencio, Fernando, Zurita, There's, SLB, Rafael Correa, Luisa Gonzalez, Correa, Alexandra Valencia, Gary McWilliams, Julia Symmes Cobb, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Schlumberger, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Rights QUITO, Houston

☆ Ecuador election: political violence and insecurity loom large as Ecuadorians get ready to vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Rafael Romo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It has also brought international attention to the powerful criminal organizations driving the violence that has plagued Ecuador. “By the very fact that we’re not controlling our borders, we’re getting an influx of money that is literally corrupting the country,” Topic added. Topic told CNN that while he admires Bukele, he would be more careful when it comes to respecting human rights. Andrea González Náder – who was Villavicencio’s running mate – told CNN that the fight against criminal gangs and corruption was Villavicencio’s main objective when he was alive. Those aims have not changed, she told CNN from a secret location in Ecuador, which police asked CNN not to reveal for her protection.

Persons: Ecuador CNN — Gissella Cecibel Molina doesn’t, Fernando Villavicencio, Fernando, ” Molina, ‘ Fernando Villavicencio, ’, ”, Molina, “, Villavicencio, Juan Zapata, Fernando Villavicencio's assasination, Karen Toro, Pedro Briones, Agustin Intriago, Walker Vera, Pity Guzman, Rodrigo Buendia, Bukele, doesn’t, Andrea González Náder –, –, Martin Bernetti, Luisa González, Rafael Correa, “ I’ve, Gustavo Petro Organizations: Ecuador CNN, National Assembly, CNN, “, Reuters, Manta, Ecuadorian National Police, United Nations Office, Drug, Getty, French Foreign Legion, Electoral Council, Citizen Revolution Movement, European, Colombian, Zetas Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Ecuador’s, “, Esmeraldas province, Muisne, South America, United States, Europe, Colombia, Mexico, Balkans, AFP, Ecuadorian, European Union

☆ FBI team joins probe into Ecuador presidential candidate slaying
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A view of the rally site where Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was killed at a campaign event in Quito, Ecuador August 9, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro/File PhotoQUITO, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Agents from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were meeting with Ecuadorean police and prosecutors on Sunday as part of a joint effort to uncover who was behind last week's assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Villavicencio was one of eight candidates crisscrossing the Andean country for votes ahead of the Aug. 20 election. While ballots for the election had already been printed prior to Villavicencio's assassination, votes for him will automatically transfer to the party's replacement. Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fernando Villavicencio, Karen Toro, Juan Zapata, Villavicencio, Guillermo Lasso, Zurita, Alexandra Valencia, David Alire Garcia, Chris Reese Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Villavicencio, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, QUITO, American, Spanish

☆ Colombia ex-candidate Zuluaga violated law with funds from Odebrecht -AG
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Colombian presidential candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga casts his vote during congressional and presidential coalitions elections that will determine which candidates will head to the first round of presidential voting, in Bogota, Colombia March 13, 2022. Courtesy of Oscar Ivan Zuluaga Press... Read moreBOGOTA, June 13 (Reuters) - Former Colombia presidential candidate and minister Oscar Ivan Zuluaga violated the law when he received money from disgraced Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht, the Colombian attorney general's office said on Tuesday. It was not immediately possible to obtain comment from Zuluaga or Odebrecht. In 2014, Zuluaga met on several occasions with the former head of Odebrecht in Colombia, Eleuberto Antonio Martorelli, the prosecutor said. The alleged lies to the council led it to close an investigation into Zuluaga, the statement added.

Persons: Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, Read, general's, Odebrecht, Oscar Ivan Zuluaga Escobar, Zuluaga, Eleuberto Antonio Martorelli, Zuluaga's, David Zuluaga, Cecilia Elvira Alvarez, Julia Symmes Cobb, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Colombian, Oscar Ivan Zuluaga Press, U.S, Electoral Council, Odebrecht, Thomson Locations: Bogota, Colombia, BOGOTA, Colombian, Swiss, Latin America, Odebrecht, Brazilian, Panama, Zuluaga

☆ Cuba approves same-sex marriage in unusual referendum
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The code would allow surrogate pregnancies, broader rights for grandparents in regard to grandchildren, protection of the elderly and measures against gender violence. President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who has promoted the law acknowledged questions about the measure as he voted on Sunday. The measure had been approved by Cuba’s Parliament, the National Assembly, after years of debate about such reforms. But there is a strong strain of social conservatism in Cuba and several religious leaders have expressed concern or opposition to the law., worrying it could weaken nuclear families. That has meant a greater opening not only the once-dominant Roman Catholic Church, but also to Afro-Cuban religions, protestants and Muslims.

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