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☆ Congested Bogota Secures $415 Million IDB Credit for Second Metro Line
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BOGOTA (Reuters) - The board of directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on Wednesday approved a $415 million credit line, with an initial disbursement of $50 million, to finance Bogota's second metro line, the Colombian capital's mayor said. The underground Line 2 will connect to the city's west, said Mayor Claudia Lopez, who finishes her term this year after overseeing initial construction on Bogota's long-awaited first metro line. At a price tag of 34.9 trillion Colombian pesos ($8.5 billion), Line 2 is expected to benefit nearly 2.5 million inhabitants and stretch 15.5 kilometers (9.63 miles) connecting 11 stations. Line 1, currently being constructed by Chinese companies Harbor Engineering Company and Xi'an Metro Co., extends 23.9 kilometers overground - despite opposition by President Gustavo Petro, who wanted part of the line to be constructed underground. The metro is considered critical to reducing the chaotic traffic in the capital of more than eight million residents and will complement the existing TransMilenio bus system.

Persons: Claudia Lopez, Lopez, Gustavo Petro, Luis Jaime Acosta, Sandra Maler Organizations: Inter, American Development Bank, Colombian capital's, European Investment Bank, Development Bank of Latin America, Harbor Engineering Company, Xi'an Metro Co Locations: BOGOTA, Colombian, Bogota, Xi'an

☆ Athletics takes Pan Am spotlight but 100 metres left in shadows
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

While there has been a lack of quality and depth across many of the sports in Santiago, it was never more glaring than at the first day of athletics. The Pan American region has for decades produced some of the world's greatest sprinters, including Usain Bolt. Brazil's Izabela Rodrigues claimed the first gold of the athletics competition winning the women's discus while the women's long jump title went to Colombia's Natalia Linares. Chile's Lucas Nervi delighted a small but supportive opening day home crowd, taking top spot on the podium in the men's discus. "I feel happy, for the medal for my country, which is the most important thing, along with qualification," said Mesinas.

Persons: Jamaica's Shelly, Ann Fraser, Pryce, Bernadett Szabo, Carl Lewis, Gail Devers, Don Quarrie, Ann Fraser Pryce, Felipe Bardi, Erik Barbosa, Dominican Republic's Jose Gonzalez, Usain, Noah Lyles, Brazil's Izabela Rodrigues, Colombia's Natalia Linares, Chile's Lucas Nervi, Peru's Luz Mery Rojas, Tatiana Weston Webb, Sanoa Dempfle, Olin, Peru's, Peru's Lucca Mesinas, Venezuela's Francisco, Mesinas, Weston Webb, Canada's Dylan, Chile's Pablo Nunez, Lee Kiefer, Canada's Grace Harvey, Daniela Fonseca, Jorge Campos, Brazil's Bruna Takahashi, Vitor Ishiy, Steve Keating, Miral Organizations: Athletics Centre, Rights, Athletics, Pan American Games, Pan, Games, Colombian Ronal Longa, Tuesday's, Pan Ams, U.S, Peru's Lucca, Paris, United States, Thomson Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Santiago, Shelly, Colombian, Dominican, Dominican Republic, Peru, United States, Brazil, Canada

☆ Bolivia severs ties with Israel, others recall envoys over Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Daniel Ramos | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Palestinians conduct search and rescue operations at the site of Israeli strikes on a residential building, in the central Gaza Strip October 31, 2023. The three South American nations lambasted Israel's attacks on Gaza and condemned the deaths of Palestinian citizens. "What we have now is the insanity of Israel's prime minister, who wants to wipe out the Gaza Strip," said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday. Bolivia cut diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 under the government of leftist President Evo Morales, also in protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. Gaza health authorities say that 8,525 people, including 3,542 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks since Oct. 7.

Persons: Ahmed Zakot, LA, Freddy Mamani, Israel, Gustavo Petro, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Evo Morales, Jeanine Anez, Arce, U.N, Daniel Ramos, Gabriel Araujo, Lucinda Elliott, Oliver Griffin, Peter Frontini, Brendan O'Boyle, Kylie Madry, Rosalba O'Brien, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, LA PAZ, Israel, Bolivian, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Bolivia, Israel, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Palestinian, Iran

☆ Colombian opposition politicians defeat Petro's coalition in local, regional elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Luis Jaime Acosta | Thomson Reuters | Luis Jaime Has Worked At Reuters For More Than Years. While He Chiefly Covers Colombia'S Armed Conflict | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Colombian President Gustavo Petro casts his vote during the elections for governors, regional lawmakers and mayors, in Bogota, Colombia October 29, 2023. REUTERS/Vannessa Jimenez Acquire Licensing RightsBOGOTA, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Colombian opposition candidates largely swept elections for mayors, governors and regional lawmakers on Sunday, dealing a defeat to President Gustavo Petro's leftist coalition in votes that analysts called a referendum on his government. Petro congratulated the winning candidates and said he planned to work together. Many of the winning candidates had vowed to improve security and promote projects that will create jobs with private sector support. Although campaigning was marked by deteriorating security and threats to candidates, voting largely proceeded without incident.

Persons: Gustavo Petro, Vannessa Jimenez, Gustavo Petro's, Petro, Gustavo Bolivar, Bolivar, Sergio Guzman, Carlos Fernando Galan, Luis Jaime Acosta, Daina Beth Solomon, Lincoln, Stephen Coates Organizations: Colombian, REUTERS, Rights, New Liberalism Party, Bogota, Registrar's Office, Thomson Locations: Bogota, Colombia, Rights BOGOTA, Colombian, Colombia's, Medellin, Cali

☆ Luis Diaz: Police and military search continues for kidnapped father of Liverpool FC player
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A major search operation is ongoing to find the missing father of Liverpool FC player Luis Díaz after his kidnapping in Colombia on Saturday. CNN has reached out to the Colombian National Police and Military Forces for comment. Diogo Jota held up Díaz's shirt after scoring on Sunday. Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC/Getty Images“We ask the captors of Luis Manuel Díaz, father of Luis Díaz, to release him now, without conditions,” the Colombian national team wrote on X. Diogo Joto, Díaz’s Liverpool teammate, held up the Colombian’s No.

Persons: Luis Díaz, Díaz’s, Cilenis Marulanda, Gustavo Petro, William René Salamanca, Luis Manuel Díaz, Ramírez, ’, Diogo Jota, Andrew Powell, Jurgen Klopp, Díaz, Diogo Joto, Klopp, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Liverpool FC, Twitter, William René Salamanca Ramírez, Colombian National Police, Colombia’s Military Forces, Colombian National Police and Military Forces, Getty, Colombian, Premier League, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Lucho Locations: Colombia, Barrancas, Colombian

☆ Liverpool fought for Diaz, Klopp says, after Colombian's father kidnapped
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The forward was absent from Liverpool's team against Nottingham Forest in light of the incident. Klopp told reporters that the Colombian international wanted to go home but he did not say if he would. The Colombia Football Federation has appealed to the kidnappers to release the father of the 43-time international. "We ask the captors of Luis Manuel Diaz, father of Luis Fernando Diaz, to release him now, without conditions," the Colombian FA posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Colombian police have announced a reward of 200 million Colombian pesos ($48,300) for information leading to the rescue of Diaz's father.

Persons: Diogo Jota, Liverpool's Luis Diaz, Scott Heppell, Luis Diaz, Juergen Klopp, Diaz's, Cilenis Marulanda, Gustavo Petro, Klopp, Diaz, Luis Manuel Diaz, Luis Fernando Diaz, Chiranjit, Robert Birsel Organizations: Soccer Football, Premier League, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, REUTERS, Authorities, Colombian, Colombia Football Federation, Colombian FA, Thomson Locations: Anfield, Liverpool, Britain, Colombia, Bengaluru

☆ Colombia rescues kidnapped mother of Liverpool soccer player Luis Diaz
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Soccer Football - Europa League - Group E - Liverpool v Toulouse - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - October 26, 2023 Liverpool's Luis Diaz during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Molly Darlington Acquire Licensing RightsBOGOTA, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday said the mother of Liverpool soccer player Luis Diaz had been rescued after being kidnapped in northern Colombia, but officials were still searching for his missing father. The Colombian attorney general's office earlier said that it assembled a team of investigators to search for the couple in Barrancas, a municipality in Colombia's northern La Guajira province. The National Police confirmed the rescue of Diaz's mother, Cilenis Marulanda, and said she spoke with Director William Rene Salamanca. Premier League club Liverpool signed Colombia winger Diaz in a multi-million dollar deal in January 2022. Reporting by Oliver Griffin and Luis Jaime Acosta, Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Liverpool's Luis Diaz, Molly Darlington, Gustavo Petro, Luis Diaz, general's, Cilenis Marulanda, William Rene Salamanca, Diaz, Oliver Griffin, Luis Jaime Acosta, Daina Beth Solomon, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Soccer Football, Europa League, Liverpool, Toulouse, Rights, Saturday, The National Police, Premier League club Liverpool, Colombia, Thomson Locations: Anfield, Liverpool, Britain, Rights BOGOTA, Colombia, Colombian, Colombia's, La Guajira

☆ Colombia to send energy to drought-stricken Ecuador
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] View of the installations of Ecuador's hydroelectric power station Coca Codo Sinclair in Napo, Ecuador June 1, 2018. Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso said Colombia would provide 450 megawatts, helping Ecuador fill a 650-megawatt deficit due to low-producing hydro-electric plants amid the worst drought in 50 years. The drought, which the government attributes to the El Nino weather pattern, has affected the eastern and southern regions where 90% of Ecuador's hydro-electric plants operate. The countries are evaluating payment options, including Ecuador potentially providing energy to Colombia once its drought ends. "We're going to fill the deficit of Ecuador's energy demand," Petro said.

Persons: Sinclair, Daniel Tapia, Guillermo Lasso, Gustavo Petro, Lasso, Petro, Alexandra Valencia, Luis Jaime Acosta, Daina Beth Solomon, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, El, Colombian, Thomson Locations: Napo, Ecuador, Rights BOGOTA, Colombia, Bogota, Peru, Guayaquil

☆ Colombia Mobilizes Troops to Search for Kidnapped Father of Liverpool Player
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( James Wagner | More About James Wagner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The authorities in Colombia have mobilized the national police and the military to look for the father of the soccer star Luis Díaz, a Colombian standout for the English club Liverpool whose parents were kidnapped in his hometown on Saturday. Given soccer’s popularity here, the incident captured the South American country’s attention, but it also stoked fears of increasing insecurity in a nation where such kidnappings were becoming less common until a surge in recent years. Mr. Díaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was rescued hours after she was abducted, President Gustavo Petro of Colombia said on Saturday night. The Colombian national police, the military and a unit that specializes in kidnapping dispatched officers, soldiers, cars and aircraft to find his father, Luis Manuel Díaz. The Colombian authorities on Sunday morning announced a reward of 200 million pesos (roughly $48,000) for any information that would help locate the elder Mr. Díaz.

Persons: Luis Díaz, Díaz’s, Cilenis Marulanda, Gustavo Petro, Luis Manuel Díaz, Díaz Organizations: police, Liverpool, Colombian, Sunday Locations: Colombia, Colombian, Barrancas —, La Guajira, Venezuela

☆ Colombia to Send Energy to Drought-Stricken Ecuador
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia will sell geothermal energy to Ecuador to help the neighboring country avoid electricity cuts brought about by severe drought, the presidents of both countries said Saturday. Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso said Colombia would provide 450 megawatts, helping Ecuador fill a 650-megawatt deficit due to low-producing hydro-electric plants amid the worst drought in 50 years. The countries are evaluating payment options, including Ecuador potentially providing energy to Colombia once its drought ends. Lasso said Peru would export another 50 megawatts to Ecuador, and Guayaquil business leaders with thermal plants have the ability to provide another 100 megawatts. "We're going to fill the deficit of Ecuador's energy demand," Petro said.

Persons: Guillermo Lasso, Gustavo Petro, Lasso, Petro, Alexandra Valencia, Luis Jaime Acosta, Daina Beth Solomon, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: El, Colombian Locations: BOGOTA, Colombia, Ecuador, Bogota, Peru, Guayaquil

☆ Colombian ex-soldier sentenced for role in Haitian president's assassination
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A person holds a photo of late Haitian President Jovenel Moise, who was shot dead earlier this month, during his funeral at his family home in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, July 23, 2021. REUTERS/Ricardo Arduengo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 27 (Reuters) - Former Colombian army colonel German Rivera was on Friday sentenced to life in prison by a U.S. court for his role in the plot to kill Haitian President Jovenel Moise, whose 2021 assassination left a power vacuum that destabilized the country. Several businessmen have also been accused of helping fund and supply the mission with weapons. Rivera also relayed information to co-conspirators that the original plan to kidnap the president had become a plan to murder him, according to his plea. Reporting by Sarah Morland and Kylie MadryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jovenel Moise, Ricardo Arduengo, Rivera, Moise, Joseph Felix Badio, Mike, Sarah Morland, Kylie Madry Organizations: REUTERS, Former, Thomson Locations: Cap, Haitien, Haiti, Former Colombian, United States

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Once a sports superpower, Cuba now celebrates every gold medal at the Pan American Games. Heavyweight Julio César La Cruz beat Brazil's Keno Machado 4-1 in the final and became the first ever athlete of the sport to win a fourth Pan American gold medal. Dominican Yunior Alcántara reduced the deficit in the Caribbean bout with a gold medal that didn't make him sweat in the final. Cuba is the country with most medals for boxing in the history of the Pan American Games. But that position in Santiago was passed on to Brazil, with four gold medal winners.

Persons: Julio César La Cruz, Brazil's Keno Machado, Arlen López, Wanderley de Souza Pereira, “, La Cruz, ” La Cruz, ”, Saidel Horta, Jahmal Harvey, Alcántara, didn't, Michael Douglas Trindade, ___ Organizations: Pan American, Pan, Cuban, Paris Olympics Locations: SANTIAGO, Chile, Cuba, Communist, Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Paris, Barranquilla, Colombian, Cuban, Santiago, Brazil

[1/3] A state oil company PDVSA's logo is seen at a gas station in Caracas, Venezuela May 17, 2019. The restrictions were removed in response to a deal reached between the country's government and opposition parties for the 2024 election. JPMorgan's index team, which has made no statement as yet on the future treatment of the Venezuelan bonds, has reached out informally to investors to discuss the topic, the sources said. Venezuela and PDVSA have around $60 billion of international bonds outstanding, which are in default. The decision on index membership and weighting is taken by JPMorgan, though any changes usually follow consultations with investors.

Persons: Ivan Alvarado, Rodrigo Campos, Jorgelina, Rosario, Karin Strohecker, Christina Fincher, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, JPMorgan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, United States, PDVSA, Washington

[1/3] Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks with Colombian President Gustavo Petro during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, October 25, 2023. The upgrade of relations with Colombia means China now has strategic ties with 10 out of the 11 South American countries with which it has relations. Paraguay is the last South American nation that has ties with Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. In 2022, shipments from Colombia to China totalled $7 billion, up almost 20% from five years earlier. Among the 11 South American countries that have diplomatic ties with Beijing, Colombia has the largest trade deficit with China despite increased Chinese imports.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Gustavo Petro, Ken Ishii, Xi, Petro, Ivan Duque, Liz Lee, Ryan Woo, Ellen Zhang, Bernadette Baum, Robert Birsel, Nick Macfie Organizations: of, People, REUTERS Acquire, Initiative, South American, Tuesday, China Harbour Engineering Company, Bogota Metro, Xian Metro Company, Bombardier Inc, Columbia, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Zijin Mining, Canada's Continental, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Colombia, Latin America Colombia, Xi's, Initiative BEIJING, U.S, America, Guyana, South America, Central America, Caribbean, United States, Taiwan, Paraguay, American, Latin America, Bogota, Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia, Suriname

☆ Couple had $18 in the bank when they started their company—now they have millions in revenue and a $400,000 'Shark Tank' deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

When James and Johanna Windon launched Buena Papa two years ago, they had just $18 in their bank account. Now, they bring in millions of dollars in annual revenue across three North Carolina restaurant locations, they said on Friday's episode of ABC's "Shark Tank" — during which they landed a $400,000 investment offer from millionaire entrepreneur Robert Herjavec. Despite no prior restaurant experience, the pair "invested our life savings [of] $40,000," leaving just $18 behind, James said. Mark Cuban opted out, citing the difficulty of simultaneously operating restaurant locations and overseeing any number of franchisees. That left Robert Herjavec, who offered the Windons $400,000 for 20% of Buena Papa.

Persons: James, Johanna Windon, Robert Herjavec, Johanna, we're, bootstrapping, They'd, haven't, Mark Cuban, Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Corcoran, Herjavec Organizations: Buena Papa, Colombian, Buena, CNBC, Global Locations: Carolina, Buena Papa —, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Raleigh, Colombia, Miami, French, Buena Papa, Raleigh , North Carolina, United States

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Escalating tensions between Colombia and Israel over the Gaza war could undo decades of close military ties between them and hamper Colombia’s ability to fight drug traffickers and rebels, security analysts say. Israel has been one of Colombia’s main suppliers of war planes, surveillance equipment and assault rifles since the 1990s. “It will be debilitating and extremely costly,” said Jorge Restrepo, the director of CERAC, a security think tank in Bogota. “Colombia continues to face a plethora of internal security challenges, and they need a strong military with various capabilities” Sánchez said. “If we must suspend relations with Israel, then that is what we will do,” Petro wrote on the social media platform X.

Persons: Gustavo Petro, ”, Jorge Restrepo, Erich Saumeth Cadavid, Cadavid, Wilder Alejandro Sánchez, ” Sánchez, Sánchez, ” Petro, Petro’s, Diego Molano, “ Petro, Sergio Guzmán, Petro Organizations: Analysts, Colombia’s Defense Ministry, IAI, Boeing, Revolutionary Armed Forces, EMC Locations: BOGOTA, Colombia, Israel, Gaza, Nazi Germany, Bogota, “, Colombian, France, Sweden, United States, Gulf, Washington, Palestine, America, Caribbean

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — The opening ceremony of Chile's first Pan American Games on Friday was not only a celebration of athletes, Indigenous peoples and poetry, but laid bare the politically divided country's scars from the military dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet from 1973 until 1990. In the most awaited moment of the two-hour event, the Pan American flame came through “the tunnel of memory” and into the National Stadium in Santiago that was a center of torture and executions after the coup d'etat five decades ago. Lucy Lopez, 93, who won a silver in the high jump at the 1951 Pan American Games, Chile's first medal in the games, lit the cauldron. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe Pan American Games, the largest multi-sport event in the Americas, take place one year before the Olympics. The National Stadium and its surroundings were renovated for the competitions.

Persons: Chile's, Augusto Pinochet, Lucy Lopez, Gabriel Boric, Pinochet, Rebeca Andrade, Maggie Mac Neil, Marileidy Paulino, Jordan Chiles, Vincent Hancock, Pablo Neruda, Gabriela Mistral, Sebastián Yatra, Selena Torres, ” Torres, Javier Sosa, “, ” Organizations: Pan American Games, Pan American, Olympics, U.S Locations: SANTIAGO, Chile, American, Santiago, Chilean, Americas, United States, France, Canadian, Dominican, Japan, Colombian, Providencia

Investors arrive to the election looking at an economy in recession as a crippling drought hit the key agricultural sector. The gap to the official rate is above 150%. On the line is the survival of the country's $43 billion program with the International Monetary Fund and the possibility that Argentina defaults on its debt for a 10th time. "Dollarization would not cure the main issue in Argentina, which is a really large fiscal problem." "Debt does not need to be an immediate priority," said Khan, who doesn't expect dollarization to top the near-term list either.

Persons: Patricia Bullrich, Martin Cossarini, Javier Milei, Sergio Massa, Alejandro di Bernardo, Bernardo, Milei, Massa, Gabriel Rubinstein, Elijah Oliveros, Rosen, Zulfi Ali, Shamaila Khan, Khan, Hans Humes, Humes, Rodrigo Campos, Karin Strohecker, Susan Fenton Organizations: el Cambio, REUTERS, NEW, International Monetary Fund, Jupiter Asset, Bullrich, WE, JPMorgan, China, Institute of International Finance, IMF, America, PGIM, Oxford Economics, Reuters, Emerging Markets, Asia Pacific, UBS Asset Management, Massa, Greylock Capital Management, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Washington

☆ Fact Check: False claims that Colombia expelled the Israeli ambassador on Oct. 16
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Colombia’s Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva clarified on Oct. 16 that the Israeli ambassador to the South American country, Gali Dagan, had not been expelled. Petro responded that day with a message on X, that partly read, “if we have to suspend foreign relations with Israel, we suspend them. I have not said that the Israeli ambassador is expelled,” he posted in Spanish on X, saying Petro should be spoken to with respect when it comes to diplomatic relations. On Oct. 19, Petro said on platform X that he had met with Dagan and the Palestinian ambassador to Colombia Raouf Almalki. Colombia’s Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva clarified on Oct. 16 that the Israeli ambassador Gali Dagan, had not been expelled from the country.

Persons: Álvaro Leyva, Gali Dagan, Leyva, Dagan, “, ‘, ’, Gustavo Petro, Petro, Petro’s, ”, Israel “, Omar Rafael García Lazo, Colombia Raouf Almalki, Read Organizations: Colombia’s, Hamas, Reuters, Diplomatic Relations, Colombian Foreign Ministry, Colombia’s Foreign, Colombia Raouf, Thomson Locations: American, Gali, Colombia, Gaza, Palestinian, Israel, Warsaw, Vienna, Cuban, Bogota

REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK/CARACAS, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Venezuela's sovereign bonds rallied on Thursday, a day after the United States lifted its ban on secondary market trading of some of the country's eurobonds, with investors eyeing a debt restructuring on some $60 billion of defaulted debt. "Prices have almost doubled in the past 24 hours but are still well below the pre-sanctioned levels," said Edward Cowen, CEO of Winterbrook Capital, who has co-invested in a fund to buy Venezuelan debt. Cowen added that a return to Venezuela's regular weighting on global indexes like JPMorgan's would give the prices further support. "I think the market was caught by surprise as the ban on secondary trading of bonds was not expected to be removed this early in the negotiation," said Armando Armenta, senior economist for global economic research at AllianceBernstein. Small funds and investors outside the United States had looked to increase their exposure to Venezuelan bonds on the expectation of debt renegotiations.

Persons: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, PDVSA, Edward Cowen, Cowen, Armando Armenta, Maria Corina Machado, Rodrigo Campos, Mayela, Marc Jones, Corina Rodriguez, Christina Fincher, Will Dunham Organizations: REUTERS, South, Winterbrook, U.S . Treasury Department, Petroleum, Venezuelan, U.S . State Department, Mayela Armas, Thomson Locations: Bolivar, Caracas, Venezuela, CARACAS, United States, South American, U.S, Venezuela's, Venezuelan, New York, London, Madrid

At the same time, Republican voters are warier of foreign conflicts and less interested in foreign policy than they have been during previous competitive primary elections, said Doug Heye, a Republican strategist. Republicans have often said that militants who support or carry out attacks on Israel will try to slip through the U.S.-Mexico border, despite scant evidence of it. He also said, without evidence, that Hamas militants were pouring over the U.S.-Mexico border. STRATEGY BRINGS RISKSRepublicans have drawn a link between national security and border security before, albeit in broader terms. Still, the immigration crackdown that Republican candidates have proposed is not without risk, said Ayres, the Republican pollster.

Persons: Jose Luis Gonzalez, Doug Heye, Whit Ayres, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Trump, DeSantis, General, It's, Rob Godfrey, Haley, Ayres, You've, you've, Gram Slattery, Ted Hesson, Jason Lange, Ross Colvin, Howard Goller Organizations: U.S . Border Patrol, ATV, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Republicans, U.S, Cato Institute, Florida, Border Patrol, Department of Homeland, U.S . Customs, DHS, ISIS, Thomson Locations: U.S, United States, Mexico, Sunland Park , New Mexico, Israel, America, Iowa, Gaza, Palestinian, Colombia, Colombian, California

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Daniel Noboa has managed to do what his father failed at five times: Getting elected as Ecuador’s president. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesAnd as he is getting a truncated term, Noboa faces a daunting task. He cut his term short when he dissolved the National Assembly in May as lawmakers pursued impeachment proceedings against him over alleged improprieties in a government contract. His political career began in 2021, when he got a seat in the National Assembly and chaired its Economic Development Commission. The younger Noboa's party will not have have enough seats in the National Assembly to be able to govern on its own.

Persons: — Daniel Noboa, ”, Will Freeman, “, Guillermo Lasso, Noboa, Luisa González, Rafael Correa, González, Ecuadorians, Fernando Villavicencio, themslves, Álvaro, Lasso, Julio Ricaurte, Villavicencio, Correa, Rosa Amaguaña, ” Amaguaña, ” ___ Garcia Cano Organizations: American, Voters, Council, Foreign Relations, National Assembly, Corp, Economic Development Commission, National Police, Assembly Locations: QUITO, Ecuador, U.S, “, Quito, Noboa, Colombia, Peru, Mexican, wife’s, Belgium, Caracas, Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Frightened by unprecedented violence on the streets and within prisons, Ecuadorians have a universal demand for the president they are choosing Sunday — safety. The runoff election in the South American country pits an heir to a banana empire, Daniel Noboa, against an attorney, Luisa González. The election comes as more Ecuadorians become victims of drug-related violence that erupted roughly three years ago and intensified in August, when a presidential candidate was assassinated in broad daylight. Lasso, a conservative former banker, clashed constantly with lawmakers after his election in 2021 and decided not to run in the special election. The next president must be able to do even something small.”___Gonzalo Solano contributed to this report from Quito, Ecuador.

Persons: Daniel Noboa, Luisa González, Guillermo Lasso, Lasso, demagoguery, Julio Ricaurte, ”, Rafael Correa, Correa, Rosa Amaguaña, “, ” Amaguaña, ” ___ Gonzalo Solano Organizations: Sunday, National Assembly, Lasso, National Police, Assembly, Economic Development Commission, Corp Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, American, Ecuador, Quito, “

☆ Colombia eyes two rate cuts before year-end, finance minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Jorgelina Do Rosario | Thomson Reuters | Jorgelina Do Rosario Is Emerging Markets Correspondent At Reuters Based In London | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"The expectation is for another cut in December," Bonilla told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings in Marrakech. "The message of reducing the key rate is for all the banks, because today the rate is an obstacle for economic recovery," he added. The central bank held the key rate steady at 13.25% in September for the third time in a row, citing stubborn inflation. That was down from highs in 2022, but still more than double the central bank's long-term target of 3%. The central bank's technical team expects Colombia's economy to grow 0.9% this year, compared with an expansion of 7.3% in 2022.

Persons: Ricardo Bonilla, Susana Vera, Bonilla, Gustavo Petro, Jorgelina, Julia Symmes Cobb, Mark Potter, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Colombia's, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Colombian Finance, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Morocco, Rights MARRAKECH, Israel, Hamas, Rosario

☆ Colombia to Spend $4.25 Billion to Buy Land for Poor Farmers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Luis Jaime AcostaBOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's leftist government will spend $4.25 billion to buy some 1.5 million hectares (3.7 million acres) of land for poor farmers or displaced people, as part of a bid to increase agricultural output and boost peace efforts, an official said. The conflict, which has involved rebels groups, the government, paramilitary organizations and crime gangs, originally began as a fight for land rights. Petro had originally said his government would buy 3 million hectares, but the official goal is now half that. Colombia's government also redistributes land confiscated from criminals and rebel groups and is making a push to formalize ownership for farmers who have worked land for generations without formal deeds. Some 1.3 million hectares have already been formalized, Vega said, and all the redistribution efforts should total about 7 million hectares by the end of Petro's term.

Persons: Luis Jaime Acosta BOGOTA, Gustavo Petro, Gerardo Vega, Petro, Vega, Luis Jaime Acosta, Julia Symmes Cobb, Bill Berkrot Organizations: National Land Agency

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