Stories from Colombia

The Council of State has partially suspended a recent national government decree intended to accelerate resource flows to Colpensiones. Minister of Labor Antonio Sanguino stated that it is unacceptable for private funds to be released from pension obligations while retaining the resources that finance them. Sanguino said that the entity responsible for paying pensions must have the necessary resources available. The National Electoral Council is implementing a new application called Comitium en línea to facilitate democratic participation. The application allows for the validation of credentials for electoral actors, including witnesses, observers, and auditors. These individuals are nominated by political parties and movements within the country. Validation is performed through QR code readings of credentials.

Tolima defeated Coquimbilla Unido 2-0 in the third matchday of the Copa Libertadores. Luis Sandoval scored the second goal of the match to secure the victory. The result allows Tolima to equalize the goal difference with Coquimbilla Unido, who remains in third place.

A battalion commander ordered the evacuation of illegal miners in northern Colombia after discovering they were operating within a specific mine site.

Michael Olize, Harry Kane, and Luis Diaz have collectively scored 100 goals for Valle Hermonis. The milestone was reported during a sports segment. The achievement was noted on the day of Luis Díaz's milestone.

Candidate Abelardo de la Espliega has proposed the construction of 10 mega prisons in Silvia. The facilities are intended for criminals involved in high-impact crimes such as drug trafficking. De la Espliega stated the initiative resulted from meetings with local communities.

Juliana Guerrero remains the representative for Universidad Popular del Cesar despite ongoing complaints. The presidency has stated there are currently no convictions against Guerrero.

The city of Cali will host a marathon on Sunday, May 3. A 'car-free day' will be implemented in the city from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM on the day of the event to support the race. The Cali 2026 International Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, May 3. Cali Mayor Alejandro Edder stated the event will include approximately 20,000 participants, including elite athletes and amateurs. The edition holds a World Athletics seal to guarantee high competition levels. The event is described as one of the most sporting events in recent years for the capital of Valle. Five hundred national police officers arrived in Cali to strengthen security measures for the upcoming weekend. More than 20,000 runners from 49 different countries are expected to participate in the event.

Authorities identified approximately 6,000 hectares of coca plantations planted between Chiba, Chia, and Tavio. The presence of these crops is linked to terror and violence in the Jamundí region.

The President of Colombia stated she holds the sole authority to appoint ministers. She responded to criticism regarding the potential appointment of Álvaro Uribe as Defense Minister. The President noted that the cabinet will include Uribista, centrist, and performance-based ministers. She said the need to address national issues such as healthcare. She stated, "The president is me, the one who appoints ministers is me." This response follows discussions regarding potential cabinet roles and political leadership in Colombia. The comments were made in the context of political debate involving Paloma Valencia and discussions about potential defense ministers. Her comments followed concerns raised by her vice-presidential running mate, Juan Daniel Oviedo, regarding a proposal from the Ministry of Defense to former President Alvaro Uribe.

President Gustavo Petro appointed Ana Castañeda as the new acting superintendent of societies. This decision follows the resignation of Billy Escobar. The appointment was announced via Radio Nacional Argentina.