A vast US war fleet deployed in the south Caribbean — ostensibly to fight drug-trafficking but widely seen as a push for violent regime change — has sparked international condemnation and bipartisan resistance in the US itself. FRANCISCO DOMINGUEZ reports
GUSTAVO PETRO is the new president of Colombia. The country’s new vice-president is Francia Marquez, the first African-Colombian woman to hold the role.
Their coalition, the Historic Pact, drew together a broad front of progressive parties and received strong backing from young people, women, ethnic minorities, trade unions and the pro-peace movement.
That the Pact garnered strong support from sectors of the population historically excluded from national politics – often through violent means – reflects the desire for change and how this was embodied in the Historic Pact’s political agenda.
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



