The 25th anniversary meeting of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation in the Kyrgyz capital may offer a glimmer of hope that international relations do not need to be defined by endless confrontation, writes KENNY COYLE
Colombia’s voters will return to the polls next weekend in an exercise that could scupper the government’s peace negotiations with the Farc liberation movement.
Incumbent President Juan Manuel Santos, who is intent on pursuing the talks that began in November 2012, will meet Oscar Ivan Zuluaga in a run-off after neither candidate reached 50 per cent in the first round.
Zuluaga led the way on May 29, gaining 29.25 per cent against 25.69 per cent for Santos. Conservative Marta Lucia Ramirez polled 15.52 per cent, marginally beating Alternative Democratic Pole (PDA) candidate Clara Lopez’s 15.23 per cent, while Green representative Enrique Penalosa scored 8.28 per cent.
The disputed election of a far-right president, who is also a US citizen, signals further consolidation of Washington’s regional power and represents a threat to the country’s democracy and sovereignty, writes WT WHITNEY JNR
ENRIQUE SANTIAGO ROMERO says the Colombian far-right’s election victory is deeply suspect — and the United States has its fingerprints all over it
With Petro, Colombia has been making huge strides towards peace — but is all that at risk with the elections next year? MARK ROWE reports back after joining a delegation to the Latin American country
Colombia’s success in controlling the drug trade should be recognised and its sovereignty respected, argues Dr GLORY SAAVEDRA



