The escalation in diplomatic tensions comes a few days after the arrest of a US consulate employee in Istanbul for alleged links to Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Muslim leader blamed by Ankara for a failed coup attempt last year. Gulen denies involvement. 

Washington said it was "deeply disturbed" by the employee's arrest. 

Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency identified the consulate employee as Metin Topuz, a male Turkish citizen. 

 

Turkey has pressed, so far in vain, for the US to extradite Gulen, while tensions have also risen over Washington's military support for Kurdish YPG fighters in Syria. 

 

The YPG group is considered by Ankara to be an extension of the banned PKK, which has waged an armed campaign for three decades in southeast Turkey. 

 

"It's clear that this [suspension of visa services] is just one more ratcheting up of the war of words between the US and Turkey," Al Jazeera's Tom Ackerman, reporting from Washington, DC, said. 

Deborah Salvatore, 55, and her children, Rick Mascia, 25, and 31-year-old Lauren Mascia, are accused of robbing a number local establishments: Two Family Dollar locations, two Dunkin Donuts, one Dollar Tree and the same Carvel twice.

The most recent robbery was at a Dunkin Donuts on Oct. 21, and it initially didn't go as planned: Rick entered alone and said he wanted to buy a donut, but the cashier replied, "We’re about to close, so you can have the doughnuts for free," recounted another employee to the New York Post.

Rick allegedly responded, "No, I want you to charge me." Then, after the employee opened the cash register, he allegedly brandished a knife and demanded all the money.

His mother was waiting in the car outside.

Police arrived before the two could even flee the scene, the 17-year-old employee said. Although she was absent from the Dunkin Donuts heist, Lauren was arrested along with her mother and brother after cops began investigating. All three are are waiting arraignment in Central Islip court.

The Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC) have been vying over control in the city of 2.5 million with the Oficina de Envigado, the crime syndicate founded by late drug lord Pablo Escobar.

The prosecution told local newspaper El Colombiano that the group has strategically usurped gangs in some of the most strategic neighborhoods in the periphery of the city.

Medellin’s slums and lower-class neighborhoods for decades have been under control by urban militias and gangs and were unified by Escobar to function as his enforcer army in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The government is hardly an authority in these urban territories, many of which began as squatted territories amid hyper urbanization.

Since the extradition of paramilitary chief “Don Berna” in 2008, the AGC has slowly assumed control of a significant portion of the city’s criminal rackets that include extortion, drug dealing and money laundering, according to the prosecution.

In some cases, this has led to turf wars with gangs that remained loyal to the local crime syndicate.

The bloodiest war erupted almost immediately after the extradition of Don Berna and cost the lives of thousands of locals, many of whom innocent civilians.

After years of tranquility, forces loyal to the AGC embarked on an offensive earlier this year using their stronghold in the west of the city as base.

Local police and authorities have been marred by corruption and hardly able to impose state authority and the rule of law in the neighborhoods where more than half of the city’s population lives.

The Argentine legend took his seat in the hospitality area at the national stadium as Spurs welcomed the Reds to their temporary home.

Maradona arrived alongside pal Ossie Ardiles who made his name as a Tottenham legend during a 10-year spell at White Hart Lane as a player. 

The 56-year-old former Barcelona and Napoli forward posed for selfies and waved to the crowd as the two sides played out a pulsating first half. 

Colombia’s five-year-long peace talks with leftist guerrillas may have tested the country’s faith, but the ongoing peace process will be “even more complex, more difficult and longer,” according to the president.

In a press conference on Friday, President Juan Manuel Santosadmitted that the peace process has been plagued by “delays and errors.”

Nevertheless, Santos vowed to be “working with passion and relentlessly” to make Colombia a more peaceful society after more than half a century of armed conflict.
https://colombiareports.com/colombias-peace-process-even-complex-difficult-longer-talks/


Despite the challenges and difficulties, despite the obstacles, we are building the foundations of a better, peaceful country. Colombia advances.


The government has been under fire from society and international observers about the state’s “deficiency” in honoring commitments made with guerrilla group FARC.

What used to be Colombia’s largest Marxist guerrilla group disarmed earlier this year while peace negotiations with the last-standing guerrilla group, the ELN, kicked off in February.

The letter would be good news for Santos who, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has failed to curb coca cultivation in Colombia’s lawless rural regions.

The US president threatened earlier this year he would decertify Colombia as cooperative in international counter-narcotics efforts amid disturbing coca cultivation growth rates.
According to anonymous government officials, Trump would acknowledge the Colombian government’s efforts in the letter.
Ever since the government and now-disarmed FARC guerrillas presented an agreement on how to tackle drug trafficking in 2012, poor farmers have taken to growing coca in a desperate search for public investment.

The unprecedented quantities of cocaine that are being produced threaten to undermine the peace process and decades of counter-narcotics efforts.

More than 100,000 families were expected to live off coca last year, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Santos would announce the letter in an address to the nation over an ongoing peace process on Friday.

https://colombiareports.com/trump-eases-tension-colombia-coca-cultivation/

Taxi drivers in Colombia’s capital Bogota have gone on strike to protest new services like Uber and government conditions put on price hikes. 

While some taxis are expected to continue services, others announced late Sunday they would hold protest meetings on 14 locations spread throughout the city of 7 million. 

The indefinite strike seeks government measures to ban informal taxi services like Uber and government assistance in replacing the current taxi counters. 

Taxi spokesperson Hugo Ospina told Caracol Radio the taxi drivers agree with a government decision to raise fare prices that was announced on Sunday. 

The taxis oppose, however, that taxi drivers have to purchase a digital fare system before being allowed to raise their prices. 

Ospina told the radio station that taxi drivers do not have the money to neither buy the tablets necessary for a centralized system nor the on-board WiFi connection necessary to connect to this system. 

“We do not have the money to buy the tablets. We do not know who will pay the data plan. 

Taxi spokesman Hugo Ospina 

 According to the taxi spokesman, the administration of Mayor Enrique Peñalosa ignored all recommendations made by the taxi drivers. 

Bogota’s taxis have become infamous for their service as many destinations within the city have become hardly profitable for drivers who lease their car from taxi companies. 

The arrival of services like Uber and Cabify has forced drivers to tighten their belt beyond the reasonable, one driver told RCN Radio. 

“My wife is the one who helps me to pay the bills. The work is getting worse every day. Now I only have 10 thousand pesos left after a 12-hour shift. 

Anonymous taxi driver 

 

The taxi strike is likely to cause major traffic jams around the areas where drivers are expected to meet up for their meetings. 

Local media have advised to avoid the 14 spots where taxis have announced to be protesting. 

 https://colombiareports.com/taxis-strike-colombias-capital-bogota/ 

The new round of peace negotiations between Colombia’s government and ELN rebels began Wednesday in Quito.

On Thursday, Colombia’s national indigenous organization ONIC accused the ELN of murdering one of its leaders.

The homicide would be a major violation of a ceasefire agreed with the government last month.

The administration of President Juan Manuel Santos has asked United Nations peace observers to investigate the killing of Aulio Isarama, a governor of an indigenous community in the western Choco province.

The ONIC said it believed Isarama was murdered by ELN guerrillas on Tuesday.

ONIC

Additionally, the community said guerrillas from the same rebel front kidnapped a school teacher, apparently the brother of the assassinated governor, earlier this month.

If confirmed, the killing and kidnapping would be a major breach of the ceasefire in which the ELN vowed to refrain from activity that would affect civilians.

The ceasefire was agreed after pressure from communities affected by the conflict and the international community.

 In the case of alleged violations like these, the UN and the Catholic Church will be in charge of verifying the claims and leading an attempt to mediate between the warring parties over consequences.

 The bilateral ceasefire is the ELN’s first since its formation in 1964.

https://colombiareports.com/eln-accused-assassinating-indigenous-governor-west-colombia/

The letter would be good news for Santos who, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has failed to curb coca cultivation in Colombia’s lawless rural regions.

The US president threatened earlier this year he would decertify Colombia as cooperative in international counter-narcotics efforts amid disturbing coca cultivation growth rates.

According to anonymous government officials, Trump would acknowledge the Colombian government’s efforts in the letter.

Santos would announce the letter in an address to the nation over an ongoing peace process on Friday.

Ever since the government and now-disarmed FARC guerrillas presented an agreement on how to tackle drug trafficking in 2012, poor farmers have taken to growing coca in a desperate search for public investment.

The unprecedented quantities of cocaine that are being produced threaten to undermine the peace process and decades of counter-narcotics efforts.

More than 100,000 families were expected to live off coca last year, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

US ambassador Kevin Whitaker told media in response he was confident Colombia would reach its 50,000-hectare target of forcibly eradicated coca plants.

Eradication operations have left at least nine civilians dead this year.

Human rights organizations had warned Washington that pressure over eradication would generate more violence.

The United Nations has explicitly supported a crop substitution program combined with development in the long-neglected rural areas.

The crop substitution program, however, has barely come off the ground as the government is short of funds and drug trafficking illegal armed groups violently oppose the state in long-neglected areas.

Coca farming communities are also threatened by the illegal armed groups, creating an explosive situation.
https://colombiareports.com/trump-eases-tension-colombia-coca-cultivation/

1. Megadiversity
Colombia is considered the second most biodiverse country in the world (following Brazil) and the most biodiverse per square kilometer. While only covering 0.8% of the globe’s surface it manages to be house to over 10% of the planet’s biodiversity. To put this in perspective, Colombia’s ecosystems are home to more than 1,821 species of birds, 623 species of amphibians, 467 species of mammals, 518 species of reptiles, 3,200 species of fish (18% of which are endemic) and a mind-blowing 51, 220 species of plants (nearly 30% endemic).

Colombia’s biodiversity, however, is expected to surpass these numbers since many areas of the country remain unexplored and new species continually surface.

2. “The Door of the Americas”
At the tip of the South American continent, Colombia’s location gives its inhabitants and tourists unique access to both the Atlantic (Caribbean Sea) and the Pacific Ocean. Apart from it’s renowned tropical beaches, the country can offer visitors a chance to explore the Amazon rainforest, climb the Andes or Sierra Nevada mountains (including the country’s snowy peak, highest point, and the world´s tallest seaside mountain Pico Cristóbal Colón), journey through tropical grasslands, trek through the Tatacoa Desert, and more.
 

3.Beautiful Women
It’s no secret that one of Colombia’s best known treasures are its women — it’s very beautiful women. While beauty of course remains in the eye of the beholder, whether its on the Miss Universe stage or on the small screen, Colombianas like Sofía Vergara, Shakira, and Danna García are always sure to turn heads.

4. Emeralds
Colombia is known for exporting many things, but did you know the South American country is responsible for more than 60% of the World’s emeralds? That’s right, it’s likely that the green gem in your jewelry box originated from the Emerald deposits of Muzo in Colombia. Known for it’s deep green color and brilliance, Colombia’s emeralds are some of the most sought after in the world.

5. Pick A Climate, Any Climate
While many know the country as a tropical paradise due to its location near the Equator, its rich ecosystems are possible due to its varied climate zones (rainforest, savanna, steppe, desert, mountain climate, etc.)

There are no striking seasonal changes throughout the year and Colombia’s temperatures vary based on elevations and rainfall. Climate in the South American country can vary greatly, from it’s sea level tierra caliente (hot land) temperatures of 75.2- 100 °F and it’s cooler temperatures 3,000-6,500 feet above sea level of 50 and 66.2 °F to it’s tierra helada above 14,764 ft where temperatures fall well below freezing.

But don’t worry, about 86% of the country has the tropical climate known and loved by those wishing to visit a sunny paradise.

6. The Best Coffee In The World
Ahh yes, if there’s one thing Colombia has always been synonymous with, it’s delicious freshly ground coffee. The “Eje Cafetero” (Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis), also known as the “Triángulo del Café”, located within the Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío departments is home to what many consider the best coffee in the world.

7. The River That Ran Away From Paradise
The world is full of amazing rivers and lakes. But one in particular really stands out. Caño Cristales, commonly referred to as ‘the river that ran away to paradise’ is a famous body of water in Colombia. Residing underwater is a range of rocks covered in green moss. But for a period of time from September to November, the water level dips allowing the sun’s natural heat to warm that moss covering the rocks. As a result, blooms grow beneath the water, ranging in all shades of colors.

8.Se habla español…y muy bien
While the Spanish language may have its roots in motherland Spain, Colombia’s Spanish is considered by many to be the “clearest” in the world. This may vary, however, when you travel across the country. In general, Colombians don’t have a strong accent — especially those living near the country’s capital, Bogotá.

9. The Fashion Capital Of Latin America
“La ciudad de la eterna primavera” (the city of the eternal Spring) says plenty about the beauty of Colombia’s second biggest city, Medellín. Once known as the home of the ruthless drug lord Pablo Escobar, its thriving textile industry has helped shed its past reputation and replace it with a growing fashion industry. Known by many as the “Fashion Capital of Latin America,” Medellín hosts two important annual fashion shows: Colombia Moda and Colombiatex.

10. The Value of Rest
Only bested by Argentina, Colombia has the second highest number of national holidays in the world. With 18 public holidays and an average of 15 paid vacation days, it’s clear that this South American country values rest. In comparison, the U.S. has 10 public holidays and about 10 paid vacation days. Most Colombians take advantage of the long weekends offs, also known as “puentes festivos,” to travel within the country with friends and family.

11. A healthy body is a happy body?
Since 1974, on Sundays and national holidays the country’s capital closes it’s usually congested main roads to give Bogotá’s residents a chance to walk, run, bike, skate, skip, hop, etc. In other words, from 7 AM to 2 PM Colombian families and tourists can use the over 75 miles of asphalt as their playground.

The capital city, Bogotá, has the most extensive network of cycle routes in Latin America (and is a competitive force for the top spot in the world)

12. Full Belly, Happy Heart
Ajíaco, Sancocho, Bandeja Paisa, Mojarra — might be the real reason Colombians need the Ciclovías to exercise on the weekends. With delicious typical stews hailing from different corners of the country, Colombians hardly lack gastronomic splendor. Staples of the country are red beans, rice, arepas, empanadas, plantains, among others. But when that plate is cleared off don’t forget dessert! Arequipe (caramel-like spread) with brevas (figs) or obleas (this wafers) are a favorite, otherwise Arroz con Leche (rice pudding) or buñuelos (cheese fritters) can top off any meal!

13. Salsa Caleña
“¡Oiga, Mire, Vea….vengase a Cali para que vea!”

Colombia’s third most populous city, Cali, is not only one of the oldest cities in the Americas, but La Capital de la Salsa (World’s Salsa Capital). With significant differences from other styles of salsa, “Salsa Caleña” is known for its quick footwork with a mostly still upperbody. Dancers’ steps are backwards and forwards or diagonal, rather than the side-to-side movements seen in other styles.

But Colombians do more than dance Salsa, the country is most well known for both it’s Cumbia and Vallenato genres.

14. Nobel Prize Winning Literature
Perhaps Colombians are simply happy about the rich culture of their country. Nobel Laureate and novelist Gabriel García Márquez is perhaps the most well known figure in Colombian literature. Author of “One Hundred Years of Solitude” (1967) and “Love in the Time of Cholera” (1985), his works have not only been critically acclaimed but have made “Gabo” an icon within the Magic Realism genre.

If you’ve ever heard of the Legend of El Dorado, then you know of Colombia’s Pre-Columbine history. The original narrative told the story of the Muisca people who used Gold not as a symbol of material wealth but as a sacred metal for religious offerings. The story describes the famed El Dorado ceremony which welcomed the new cacique (chief). Covered in gold powder, the chief would travel atop a raft with emeralds and gold at his feet. Later he would dive into the lake with his offerings as bystanders cheered. The riches of the Muisca people quickly fell in the hands of the Spanish conquistadores upon the “discovery” of the New World and would spur the legend of a city built entirely of gold and gems among Spaniards hoping to find more riches.

Bogotá’s International Airport “El Dorado” was named after the ceremony, and gold artifacts, like the Muisca Raft, can be found in the capital city’s Museo del Oro (Gold Museum).

16. Fútbol With Heart, On It’s Way To The Top
United by their love of fútbol — Colombians rarely miss a chance to socialize over a good soccer match. Whether it’s celebrating for La Selección Colombia or facing defeat, Colombian wear their yellow, blue, and red with pride.

Over the past months, Colombian soccer star Radamel Falcao, from the Club Atlético de Madrid, rose to prominence as he led both his club and national teams to stunning victories. Recently El Tigre (The Tiger) became the first player in a decade to score five goals in a La Liga (Spanish club league) match. The footballer’s impressive performance has also helped the Colombian national team become a competitive force within the South American qualifies for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

17. Stars That Shine Bright
Despite all of the country’s qualities perhaps what shines the brightest internationally are its stars. From the charitable Juanes and Shakira and the hilariously sexy Sofía Vergara to the musically talented Fonseca and Carlos Vives — coffee may no longer be Colombia’s most well known export.

18. In Love With The Chubby
And for all those chubby-loving art fiends, Colombian artist Fernando Botero’s work is nothing short of innovative. His figurative style “Boterismo” is characterized by portraying subjects in exaggerated volumes. His works are known to depict chubby women, men, children, animals, and even still-life in daily life with a sense of humor. Botero has also taken classics, like Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, and given them his own unique touch.
19. The Oldest Democracy
Despite having been ravaged by almost a half a century of violence at the hands of drug cartels and rebel groups, Colombia is actually Latin America’s oldest democracy.

In August 2012, President Juan Manuel Santos announced a fourth attempt at ending decades of violence and a culture of impunity by entering peace talks with the FARC rebel group.

20. Festivals, Festivals, Festivals
It’s not enough to have astonishing biodiversity and ethnic diversity — you need to celebrate it. Colombia has the worlds biggest theater festival (Festival Iberoamericano), salsa festival, flower parade. It also has the second biggest carnival in the world!

21. An Emerging Global Player
Colombia’s real GDP grew 5.7 % in 2011 with inflation at 3.7%. TIME magazine said it best when they featured the Colombian President on the cover of their international edition in April 2012, “The Colombian Comeback” is “From nearly failed state to emerging global player — in less than a decade.”

 

A peace deal reached last November ended a 52-year conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), ushering in a new era of opportunity and prosperity for Colombia. In fact, The Economist named Colombia country of the year in 2016 for “the colossal achievement of making peace.”

The guerrilla movement had controlled a large swath of the country, but those regions are now blooming with opportunities for business and tourism. Colombia has emerged from the peace agreement as one of great turnaround stories in history, and this bodes well for its economic future and long-term stability.

In fact, the Colombian economy is forecasted to grow 2.3% in 2017, above the 1.1% average for Latin America, according to the International Monetary Fund. Furthermore, the economy is poised to continue growing, driven by much needed development in the post-conflict regions, which span from the Northern Atlantic Coast to the East and Southeast. According to the Colombian government, peace will allow an additional growth between 1.1% and 1.9%.

These opportunities are attracting foreign investment. The U.S. is already the world’s largest investor in Colombia, having brought $15.5 billion into the country between 2010 and 2016, according to the Colombian Central Bank data. A free-trade agreement between the two countries in place since 2012 has spurred trade as well, with U.S. purchases of Colombian products growing 12% in 2016 from 2012, led by coffee, flowers, honey and sugar, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Colombia’s extensive connections to the rest of the world have also been a powerful incentive for American companies looking to invest abroad. Colombia has 16 free-trade agreements in total, making it an extraordinary platform for exporting goods and services with tax incentives to more than 1.5 billion people around the world. Legal stability, as well as ample logistics and warehousing capacity are added benefits.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, more than 250 U.S. companies are taking advantage of Colombia’s newly created opportunities, including Brinks, Cisco, Citibank, DuPont, ExxonMobil, EY, General Electric, General Motors, IBM, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Pfizer, PricewaterhouseCoopers and 3M.

Investors are also seeing openings in Colombia’s internal market. The agricultural sector has always been a bright spot, with its coffee and flowers coveted in international markets and a population with ample experience in farming, passed down over the centuries. Now with peace, almost 10 million acres of suitable land have become available to raise cattle and grow vegetables and fruits. Because of its food producing potential, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has named Colombia one of the world’s five food pantries.

Still, the country’s expertise is growing far beyond agriculture. Colombia’s high-tech sector is thriving as the third largest in Latin America, with USD $2.5 billion in annual revenue, according to International Data Corporation, a market research firm. Investors are looking at Colombia as a tech hub for Latin America. With more than 5,000 tech companies and close proximity to the U.S., the country is becoming the hotspot for American tech companies to expand their development capabilities and target sales growth in Latin America, a market of 626 million people.

A whole lot is also coming out of the factories: from auto parts to building materials, fashion clothing to processed food and consumer products. Colombian jeans are making a splash around the world for the fine fit, so too its bathing suits and underwear. Architectural glass, ceramic roof tiles and pharmaceuticals – there’s ample room for foreign investment in manufacturing.

International tourism is another success story. In 2016, foreign visitors reached 5 million in, a 15% increase over the previous year.

 

The property will be located on Avenida de las Palmas near the upper-class El Poblado neighborhood in Colombia’s second largest city. The company says Hilton Medellin will be part of a mixed-use development that also includes retail stores, office space, a residential complex, and a parking garage.

Juan Corvinos, a regional managing director of development for Hilton, highlighted the influx of multinational companies coming to Medellín, now a “sought-after location,” as something that will make the new hotel a draw for social and corporate events. “This is an excellent time to bring the Hilton brand to Medellín as its lodging market continues to experience healthy growth and the city further establishes itself as one of Colombia’s principal business hubs,” said Corvinos.

Hilton Medellín, which will be a part of the company’s global Hilton Honors loyalty program, will feature more than 2,000 square meters of meeting space, including a 600-square-meter ballroom and five other meeting rooms. It will also have an executive lounge, piano bar, restaurant, fitness center, spa, beauty salon, outdoor pool, and whirlpool.

The hotel will be owned and developed by Constructora Colpatria, which has offices in Mexico and Peru and has developed commercial, residential, retail, and infrastructure projects throughout Colombia over the past four decades.

Hilton Medellín is now one of the nine projects that Hilton currently has in the works in Colombia on top of the 14 properties it already maintains in the country. In 2016, the company opened the DoubleTree Bogotá, Hampton Inn by Hilton Medellín, and Hampton by Hilton Bucaramanga.

“The city of Medellín is an increasingly important an international business hub and we are excited to bring the first Hilton hotel to the market, benefitting the growing number of business travelers,” said Amparo Polania, president of Constructora Colpatria.