John Otis

Colombia's World Cup jersey becomes a political battleground ahead of runoff election

John Otis

As Colombia gears up for the World Cup, the national team's iconic yellow jersey is becoming a political battleground in a bitter presidential race.

Sunset casts a warm glow over Colombia's remote Mavecure Mountains, where three towering rock formations rise above the Amazon jungle.

NPR Headlines

Colombia's untapped wonder: The Mavecure Mountains

John Otis

Far from Colombia's tourist hubs, the Mavecure Mountains rise from the Amazon jungle. Once off-limits during conflict, they now draw adventurous visitors to rare wildlife, sacred sites and vast views.

Supporters cheer during a campaign rally of presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland movement in Bogota, Colombia, May 20, 2026.

NPR Headlines

In Colombia's election, undecided voters weigh leftist vs. right-wing firebrand

John Otis

Colombians head to the polls Sunday as candidates clash over how to tackle crime, armed groups, and social reform—from dialogue to an iron-fisted crackdown.

Colombia's election takes a tense turn with wave of pre-election violence

John Otis

Colombia's presidential race unfolds amid weekend bomb attacks and rising fears of political violence ahead of May's vote. The left-wing frontrunner is trailed by a fragmented right-wing opposition.

NPR Headlines

From guns to ballots: FARC's campaign for votes in Colombia

John Otis

Ten years after Colombia's peace deal, former FARC commander on the election campaign trail is discovering that winning ballots can be tougher than waging war.

NPR Headlines

Venezuela debates sweeping amnesty for political prisoners

John Otis

After the fall of Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan regime promise amnesty and reconciliation — but for hundreds still jailed and thousands facing charges, justice remains uncertain.

President Trump meets with the Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the Oval Office in Washington, D.C., Tuesday.

NPR Headlines

An uneasy détente: Trump and Colombia's Petro meet at White House

John Otis

Donald Trump and Gustavo Petro share little in common — except a talent for confrontation. Their meeting at the White House on Tuesday could reshape U.S.–Colombia relations.